I
Admiral has feet, but you do yet again have to walk into an established hazard.
Alright, he's rolling off angle, immediately checked.
Has got Admiral by his side.
Hawks wants more, trying to pressure Point, but Jimbin's not having any of it.
Just happy to take the one big one when he's got that spike guard up.
Look at that defensive tool there, doing damage while you're holding the block.
Admiral does end up falling, just spike that rush coming out.
Hawks trying to make his presence known in the backline, but...
Only presence now is ten feet under shut down by T sang and the fight just about over and maybe this map and series too
Crazy referring with overclock and downboard can't imagine that they'll play all that defensively right 25% left
With how quickly flashpoint burns out and a sim TV. We're just looking to catch base station before they can set up lethal
Gotta get a big touch
Jumping down poor Hawk on another hero is back on the hazard this time around
Soundbarry is gonna connect for Crazy Raccoon happy to just back off down poor
Not sure who it connected with but it doesn't really matter
Jumping is already inserting himself into the conversation
Taking to the sky, Lentil snipes out stalker might just be what Space Station
required to get this flip and at least hold for more than 20% or so Crazy Raccoon
They're gonna come back for the Soundbarry
Yeah, it comes at the castle space station, all of that, so right now they need to hit, and they need them now.
Crazy return going low, but not low enough, no depth to display a show-off from just sending the team forward with one side of B.
Yeah, I mean it feels like an inevitability here, that space station is just going to get flattened.
This B is going to be too much, everybody cowering right now at the space station on this high ground.
They're going to get an isolate wall there and jump in, but B connects with him.
Green over health dissipating now as Hawke is on the pursuit, but Lethal's already dead.
Hawke needs this kill desperately and he's gonna get it.
But meanwhile, this team are falling around him.
Ablut down, Lethal to follow like Crazy Raccoon is still in this.
A stiff on the back of Hawke, downpour of his own is gonna connect with the point,
but who's actually managed to secure?
Jumping back on the Hawke, maybe to make the big difference, make him an assault stalker.
A Snipe on this sugar-free, O-T is Crazy Raccoon, secure the point, ultra-violet, out of resources,
Out of time, a space station lose control of not only the map, but of the series too.
A 3-0 on Atlas and Crazy Raccoon.
Come up with the dub.
They need a clean fight. There's only two minutes to go, and a clean fight is not what they'll find.
Mac has been so brutal with his anti-nades that Kiriko banned no Suzes.
The both, the Pulse Bomb put the Nade as well, and Weibo dispatch Vulcans.
Let it be fight two.
Vulcans won the last one. This is the cruelty of Colosseo, right?
When you start having that distance lead for these other sides,
they're able to just set up for the next fight.
You take so long pushing the objective through main,
that they just push it a little bit more through main,
force you to have to take a fight on this one angle
that Weibo can just flank around to pinch you with.
There's the Teleport, the Shatter in the hands of someone too, Lee trying to look front of the entrance here, however these turrets are going to be a little bit annoying for him.
Looking for Marco, he might. Oh, Lee takes down shieldable people, someone did he end up using the Shatter here? It looks unwise.
This is just way more fully in control, like Maka has been so efficient with these maids, someone on the Rhine has not been able to block enough of them to stop the Fielder from being forced into using a mortality field in a reaction.
And without that cooldown, the Baptiste and the rest of his team are just too vulnerable.
This is lost by territory. Jack, Wave 0-1 fights away for a Chinese team to continue ending up the racket.
Can't go down. Does manage to dash to the mega health pack.
One more fight is all that Wave 0 need here. 25 seconds remain. Leave with a pulse.
There's the wall to open things up. Someone already kind of just waited here by Gushwey, who's lingering in the backline like a tracer right now.
Where's the simtp? Gushwey waiting for that simtp. Knows once a friend that cage will find value.
Well, the cage is gonna come soon. You've got to imagine they're gonna come in and I still slam there from someone, but the cage is gonna come in regardless.
Least of him in, looking for action, however, looking for somebody.
Shai takes down Meru with the artillery barrage. Least of him in, lifts him to safety, but Gushwey and Makka are already dead.
One fight for Fultons to be able to try to find this Leeson.
Checkmate on the point, get annihilated by Shy and now he's all onto someone.
The tag team duo Shy leaves him in, finish off the fights.
Shio a last ditch attempt, but it's just not to be.
They've done it.
Waybo break the curse.
They take Falcons all the way to three and knock them down
down to the low of brackets I mean that's why we've seen teams play like
Reinhardt against Mizuki right because all that damage still exists while we're
doing the Kanko centuries y'all play those in-your-face rush start coughs
that's why the Mizuki is not the option for Slayze switches off realizes that the
kit doesn't offer nearly enough outside of a chain alright here's a spree for it as
easy hard rather than Slayze picked up but they've lost a lead game okay finally
barrel they want to break back here now firing meets the rock end of the pole
I don't know what to say. Let's go down.
I only have 60% break back in.
Well, Liga has the downpour.
I would not be surprised to see him try and play this D.Va again,
especially with Juno Freya on the other side.
I think you're probably going to get a use of this downpour
and then potentially a swap.
We have more of a watch to play after that.
Okay, downpour to trap the backline.
Stop Cloud from dashing away.
Probably the win condition for Liga.
And I later know it's a problem.
AGL puts the point pressure down, a little overhead swing,
PS2 doesn't really look like any damage from that.
Alphari's going to dodge away.
Jax is waiting to see if he's being consumed.
No, they get this to try, apparently.
They go, no, we'll even have the chance
to be used with his downpour.
That's when they're trying to stay alive
to damage with the Gayshine on spike guards,
working overtime, and eventually he falls.
That's a big one.
AGL get caught slipping now.
Alphari's picked off by a ball,
a shot, apparently, that connected directly.
Now Tharall are in the home stretch after winning that number two.
AGL, it's two, we'll die.
I do not like the way that AGL just played that last fight.
Now you're pretty much stuck on this hazard,
but you could have made some swaps if you took that fight earlier.
Interesting clear of EZHARN if at all possible,
but the Tracer now has to deal with Top Dragon on the point.
So the early recall forced out.
Kitsune rush active here for recalls,
get a pop at straight away for the unilation.
It's a bit of a problem.
It's a slight wrinkle in the plan.
Downpour holds KSG in place, they can kite away from the annihilation.
In that window, Nico is picked off.
Saabari in our Valencia, active.
Four players on the field for AGL with Top Dragon as a pulse bomb,
and he's not afraid to use it.
Sees two very nimble backliners that has to be careful of those kunai.
Barrel in control of the point still.
Over time, he's active, and Top Dragon is pacing himself.
Recall, flattening the frontline.
Riga's gonna eat that pulse bomb now and go low,
but Splatguard's gonna help keep him hailing hardy for the time being.
KSG though wants to push a bit further.
Overhead's wind coming in from our firing,
and the league is down, Slayers fall in, and finally, outside of the land of the rising sun,
Varel Stepther Authority, staying alive here at AWC.
A post-pon for Kineki however, and there's the spree to just assault after assault after assault,
is unrelenting from JDG. 15 player kill streak as well for Pineapple.
Yeah, I mean, Bellasraya's pile driving, as the Wrecking Ball and the rest of JD Gaming are pile driving on top of Tim's secret.
Kineke finding the opportunities with the pulse bomb, Pineapple the follow-up with the spree, and Secret yet again locks out of tapping for his point, having to walk into Hamlin's mind, having to walk into a fight before they even get to see point.
Oh, good kill on Kinect, though. Okay. Now High Vision's getting in this. Winter down low to Monk, not a good start, but Lysraea is gonna have those mines and get back to the point as Mewtwo.
Yeah, he's in no man's land right now, and enemy enemy's territory is super far away from the rest of the fight.
JD Gaming just stops Secret from being able to find the flip as well. That was where I was like, okay, well, we might be missing the Blue Yang, but we still got points off of random mines.
So you've got to find the flip here, they've got the ultimates to deal with, but with JDGaming 7, you've got to present plus, if you commit all of your ult here, they just take a dry fight and win the match.
They weren't even pressuring that point the whole time, the mines faded away naturally.
Died in natural causes, North Shore Team Secret are going to get the same honour though sadly.
There's the rush from Mung putting them on the point now.
Every group dark new to in trouble one play from soggy a blinks back folks bombing his back pocket forces the suzu
Hi vision across the map though is going to do a lot to the front line pineapple down
OT team secrets hopes and dreams relying on this point being cast budget win and that was required for
Secret to be able to stay alive in this series
Great back flank from high vision and soggy just flanking into that back line putting the press office supports
They have to do that and then some go
That's JD Gaming, like you've got the title blast to engage with your tracer or your shion, secret.
If you want to go to rally to be able to sustain, you can actually see something out of that DPS now.
Cubs got primal rage there, Handa with it, but Konecki has got the title blast.
Rally, oh there's the boot and Kofi ends up going down with a primal rage, he was stunned so couldn't use it.
And this race is going to have mines too, it's all falling apart for Team Secret, a good stun bash from Pali,
Flash from Polly, but it's actually going to be enough.
Pineapple again, separating the team with his spree,
and now hunting for more.
Kineki gets a couple.
Winter trying to hold on to.
Koffer gets back with a primal rage,
but it's all Pineapple here.
JDG, they're crushing the hopes and dreams of Team Secret,
and their key is not far behind.
I mean, that's gonna be, uh, T1's gonna have all five ultimates, right?
I mean, they're gonna be in prime position, like, back over to the Shion, tried some, uh,
spawns there.
Tracer didn't really find the best results.
Now they're gonna go over to Reaper.
So, look, I mean, you're trying to do that.
Back over to the Xi'an tried some off
This spawns there is tracer didn't really find the best results now
They're going over the reefer so what I mean you're trying to deal with this
Moga you bring some nice knock of the
Adventure of course, but it doesn't matter. I mean sound better use aggression pushed in
All right proud getting real charged that you need to win when
When Shiyun gets the Major, where she gets all of the roll passes between them, it's a brutal scenario.
Clear to see yourself destructed out of trying to get back into mech.
Yes, it was a trade, the T1, but definitely favoured them, they got the favoured either.
I'm just getting myself destructed out of there.
Oh, Tectonic Shock.
I think the size of the brass man is about to give a couple of readings.
Here's an early Suzu Sambar is going to land over the top of it here.
19-0, and this is the time, they've got to hunker down.
The lights have already been picked off and Zest is now looking for that soft underbelly in their composition.
He'll simply throw some pop shots over it clear.
It's gonna be a consumer rush down coming out from where, but the case was a problem.
Hydron hits the overclock to break it open for the rest of T1.
It's still topped up and healthy.
Hydron knows what's coming.
Zest is suspected that Hangzoh became this round and he has to back up even further.
It won't matter. The back flight is down.
T1 is 63%. There's a back cap happening.
And it's gonna be a short-lived victory lap there as light has to saunter away.
Yeah, I mean, what a light backcab, so you get 9%, but that is all T1.
The way they're coordinating these MAGA stumps, right, the furrow from the venture coming in,
just popping out of that, the damage, then plus the stomp, and then also proud rolling on through the fight.
It's been too much for 9Z to deal with all series.
The last chance for 9Z here at the midseason championship, and LCS already has been staved off of the point.
I've just been treated and in fact there was a flip. Another back up, but 9z written all the way down exactly with the back up.
Okay, how do they group up around this?
That is an early slipstep there from where then I think Doghack has realized it.
Life's been picked up here, cleared out, fighting for his life against blissable people and there's a sound barrier.
And already shouldn't be required, but it might just be for a bit of a celebratory dance here.
Turning up the beat for the victory lap now is D1 have done it.
9z dispatched in this sights set squarely
on evening at regional rivalry
it's chronic pretty healthy the entire time on druid and not taking any serious
pressure or damage
they are not going to make it and even worse they've kind of moved up
used some pull-outs to try and make it now they're gonna stuck here
same liquid surely surely this isn't where it ends
How does that really work out in this map?
After switching to Liquid's copter, adopting the revived 5 ultimates though for Team Liquid
to open up our final flashpoint.
Korneming live, Align for TL.
Oh, it doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!
What a pulse call there!
Yeah, Liquid are going to hit you better believe it, but how are you going to come back from this?
First it was chronic, then it was Sungeon.
Individual DPS plays taking these fights over and Liquid are gagged!
Sanctuary, SimWolf, in Kitsune Rush he is there. Rush obviously used from CJ, the match
up Rush on the other side. Holtzbaum just, yeah fine, it's good. Sunjoo with two, that
just kind of ruins anything that Team Liquid is trying to do there with that
Bank of Ultimate Zero now over to the tracer here. Trying to mark Sunjoo, maybe
also put a little bit more pressure on the loop, right, kind of close the gap with
that wheel. The Annihilations are always at an element of volatility to these fights.
Okay, none of us are starting things off. Dree respects it.
Sontran died, Dree, and there goes Dree. Respect it as much as you like. It's going to come for you either way.
Dree in the headlines was Dree, and he's brought down, and Sontran is on a running riot.
Straight after Xerah, he goes. Chronic with the KS. And that's, I mean, you end up using your annihilation there.
gonna have to jump off the side this is so bad for team liquid at the moment they
get gonna go over to the cat Ali just even try and get close to get a touch
right I mean oh this is brutal here is three three three has to be so careful
they aligns up some help from the tank really one HP nobody on the chase here
comes Vega! Okay, salvation comes on four-pawns, apparently.
Tree was still able to find a kill on Sonshu, by the way. They'll end up eliminating each other,
but we need a touch. Liquid have to go through the last charge, and so far they've been frozen.
Sif, Vega picked off as he tried to come in and salvage the fighter. Now Liquid are on their last
legs. Can they get in onto this point? Can that they find elimination? Chronic is comfortable
sitting back and not being pressured whatsoever by attack. He's been forced out of the affair.
They are now trying to stay alive, but Dallasville will keep the flame alive for North America.
An unfortunate team kill, but also a reminder, this region belongs to us.
A lot of people are haunted by their past. I'm inspired by it.
They're not just playing for themselves, they're really playing for their entire family.
They have defeated their demons! They have crushed the curse!
Hello everybody, I'm GotMoxy and I'm joined here today by Checkmate, Chiu and Merit from
Team Falcons who are going to be playing a little bit of a fun game with me today.
We've got something called Who's Like Hero and we need to see which one you think it
is so let's roll the first one.
Great job.
Save!
Here's a pro!
I mean, you are an actual pro but at this game too, yeah, it's Tracer.
Okay, let's go to the next one. Speedrun!
What is this? Junkrat?
It's a Junkrat.
Is it a Junkrat?
It's a legs.
What is this?
Junkrat.
Yeah, that is Junkrat.
Why did you think it's me?
Uh... He's stupid.
Okay, let's see the third one.
Oh, it's a K-Cut.
It's Mercy.
Mercy is a warrior.
Oh, it's Mercy.
Mercy.
You're really good at this. Yeah, it's mercy. Okay, let's see if you can continue the streak.
Rodog.
Yeah.
Okay, let's see the next one.
Okay, let's have a look at six.
Oh, this one's tricky. Yeah, it's Karakam.
Oh, the victory card.
Oh, okay, okay.
How do you do this?
Did you have a skill?
Okay, let's see if you can redeem yourselves with the last one.
I think it's Halloween.
I think it's a moira.
A moira?
I'm holding it.
Do you have a character like that?
Do you have to draw your hair like this?
Now, as an over-chair?
Yeah, over-chair.
Okay.
We haven't tried to trick you guys.
You have to look at your legs well.
No.
You look like a cute character.
It's either a moira or...
Hmm...
A moira is a Batista.
Oh, is that so?
My hair is like a barf test.
Oh, is that so?
Since you're a healer, what are you going to do?
Umm...
Do you want to go home?
No, no, no, no, no.
Moira!
Okay, let's see the reveal.
It was not Moira.
It was Soldier 76.
Unlucky, you guys.
Hopefully you'll be a little bit luckier in your matches.
Good luck. Have fun.
Thank you.
and then you get all the blood out now!
You look nervous.
You look short.
Everything's good?
What?
Okay.
You really need the raps?
Yeah, it feels like an overkill to me.
Everyone is playing You're Not Yet.
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pick up and quest for a grand total of $300,000 in prize pool.
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Now imagine an entire city being built to supercharge it.
Hedia City, powered by play.
And we are back live from Paris. Welcome to the eSports World Cup 2026 is the mid-season
championship. We are here for Overwatch and I brought in some of the biggest brains in
the game. We've got Jake alongside Jaws. I'm your host Chris Buggie. Jake, we're in
day three. It's the final day of groups. We're going to be sending some people packing. It's
time. We got to be eliminating some teams. I mean, there have been some really strong
performances here at the Esports World Cup. But still, a lot of teams aren't going to
be able to survive day three. This is when the real competition begins. Now, Josh, you
may be the hardest working man in Overwatch. Your call time wasn't until three hours from
now, but you wanted to be in early. You beat me here to the studio. Why are you so excited
for group play.
Key crushing, is that OK answer?
Yes, great answer.
A lot of them have crushed yesterday.
I want some more.
So you like watching dreams crush?
Yeah.
Oh, no, that's the fun part of it.
Let's take a look at our groups and tell me
whose keys are going to get crushed today,
because in group B, we already have one team through.
As we take a look at the decider matches down low,
though, Jake, what do you expect to see as Team Secret
is knocked out as JD Gaming moving on, as well as Vero,
who will match up against Space Station?
Yeah, tough to see teams go home,
but that's how it has to be.
Varel, I think they showed up pretty impressively,
but to see them take on space Asian gaming,
that's gonna be potentially a spicy one.
Maybe some pressure on space Asian
to deliver a strong performance.
You know, being such an effective competitor
out of North America,
but now you kind of wonder,
can Varel have a chance at the upset?
Josh, space Asian knew they were the underdogs
against Crazy Raccoon.
In fact, Crazy Raccoon was our first team
to make it out of Group B.
So let's revisit that match,
because it only went two maps.
Okay, I've had some choice words about Domina over the last stage or so.
That she wasn't good.
I wish I used a different word than that, but yes, that she wasn't good.
But she doesn't look so clean on the Domina right now.
I think Crazy Raccoon is still the favorite to take at all,
and this is a sign of almost immensely in my mind right now.
They are the ones to beat.
Crazy Raccoon looking clean in their victory.
Was there a star performer or was this a team effort, Jake?
I gotta say, watching Stalker has been an absolute treat in this tournament.
I mean, he just lifted the trophy in Japan.
He wants to do it again here in Paris.
And they're certainly on the way to do it.
I mean, this team looks so ready for modern Overwatch.
They play just about everything,
innovating their own new styles.
The only team showing the domino,
but that makes them so hard to prepare for
and so effective at this level of global competition.
Tell me, Stalker's looking for another EWC trophy,
but with a different jersey this year?
I mean, he might be one of the few players to do it.
And honestly, his form is elite right now.
He is ready to tangle with some of the top players in the world,
which is, frankly, what's going to be required if they want to go the distance.
As we take a look here at Group A, Virtus.Pro and Twisted Minds is the big match of the day,
but the other semifinal is already done, and that decider match went to Wave-O.
Probably the decider that we were all surprised to see.
In fact, everyone on my analyst desk was calling in 2-0, Jaws.
This went to a Game 3, and it's Gushway Squad walking away with the W.
This one was so sick, man.
There's an old adage in Overwatch.
Sometimes Chinese Overwatch just shows up.
That's about right.
It just shows up, right?
It just shows up.
It's ridiculous.
They went to two map buys versus Falcons over the last year,
and they finally come away with a win.
I mean, the crowd was going crazy.
There was solely Gooshway and once again fans
and Chinese Overwatch fans in the audience.
It was just a blessing.
Jake, what is the peak we've seen
for Chinese Overwatch in the past?
Have they ever broken into the top eight
or even top four on the global scene?
I mean, there was a time when we looked
some of these players. I mean, leave and shy of the players that were on the top of the world.
It's just been a long time since they've been able to deliver results like that. But a win over
Falcons really gets you to start to believe in this Webo gaming team. They might be able to make
magic happen just one more time. Once again, huge plays once the Kiriko is banned out. The
auto comes in and you can see that leads to Webo's success in a game free of push. The Bastion
cat drop. Is it coming back into play today or is it all Cassidy? I think that Bastion is going
going to be very relevant.
I mean, honestly, someone not going to the diva on that
coliseal, I think it came back to bite them Falcons.
They're certainly going to be stung from that loss,
but they're not out of the tournament just yet.
And with the four merits been in and the Cassidy in particular,
you'd be kind of crazy, I think, to count them out this early.
Anyone they go up against this time, it'll be T1 today.
That could be spicy with a lot of expectations,
a lot of drama, personal history between the players
on those teams.
Six teams are making their way through today.
Lock in for an excellent day of Overwatch action
here at EWC for now though. Let's check in with Fancy ahead of the matchup today for
Toyset of Mines against VP. I'm Jordan Havlaisi Zalashid from the organization itself, the
co-owner. I need you to give me a little bit of an insight in terms of what the expectations
are this year for CC because it doesn't feel like you guys are doing too hot in comparison
to last year.
And we compared to last year, we were at the place. Thank you guys. Everyone is so high
that can't wait for the match to start. But before that, when in terms of the club championship,
speaking yes we might not be doing as well as we did last year but we still
have so many games to jump into and once we jump into those games I think we're
gonna rock up points really quickly. I'm assuming that Overwatch is going to be one
of these games. Definitely. You guys have historically had a good performance here.
You're playing VP today so I want to hear the expectations and the
predictions from you but also from them but I'm gonna start with you. Well for me
I mean we had an interview yesterday with Quarze where he said that it's gonna
be a 2-0 I mean yes the you know the meta changed a little bit and might not be
favouring Twisted Minds right now, but I think the guys' ability to adapt to whatever the
meta is, is what made them the world champions last year.
And I think that they're going to continue with their performance and it should be an
easy 2-0.
Really, it's not a big deal.
12-1, it's going to be a 2-0.
What are you saying?
Consensus seems to be online, but then in general, I want to have a conversation about
the club championship points overall.
When it comes to this year, what is the focus moving forward because of course, you had
a lot of rosters that were looking to qualify that didn't happen so what now I mean yes there
are a few rosters that we were hoping that they're gonna be able to get at least a few
club championship points such as EFC, sweet fighter and able to succeed especially able
to succeed after the Southlake major we thought that they get definitely gonna be here but
then yeah I mean things got complicated a little bit and the players weren't able to
do well though but we couldn't qualify and I can barely hear myself at this point so
I don't know.
We're just gonna get it out of here.
Thanks, you guys.
You're welcome.
Woo!
I
What's good everyone Zoey here joined by Fernando the head of Overwatch eSports what did we just
watch Fernando? Well Zoey you just got to see the official reveal of the Overwatch low-top
jerseys. Oh and I see you're wearing some of that let's talk about the design here. Yeah
yeah I'm wearing team Korea right here so you know the designs are very unique each one
One of the teams is going to get its own unique model and design.
The other really cool thing about these jerseys is you can identify the regions by the colors.
So each one of the regions is going to have a different color design and it's going to
be very easy to spot.
Okay, so it's based on the regions that we have at EMEA color, Korea color, etc.
Yeah, EMEA color and America's color and then Asia color.
I see so many details.
We see the Overwatch logo in there.
So, three stars at the top of the Korean Nova? Is that for how many times they won?
Yeah, so all of our previous champions will have a start to indicate how many championships
they won in previous World Cups.
Alright, Fred Brickman, it's your time to shine, right? You've got golden pants and
a roster now, so you've got to step it up. Fernando, when can people get it? Because
I'm obviously just going to run away with this archer stealing, I'm going to be honest
with you, but the general folks out there, when can they get their hands on these jerseys?
Yeah, so our fans will be able to get these jerseys very soon, so make sure to follow
you
We've got something called Who's Like Hero, and I want you to see which one you think it
is.
So let's roll the first one.
Very slow.
Same as a pro!
Same! Here's a pro!
I mean, you are an actual pro, but...
Oh, this game too!
Yeah! It's Tracer!
Okay!
Let's go to the next one!
Streetrun!
What is this?
Junkrat?
It's Junkrat.
Is it a tank?
It's a tari burger.
What is this?
Ah, Junkrat.
Yeah, that is Junkrat.
Why did you think it's me?
Uh...
It's stupid.
Okay, let's see the third one.
You're really good at this, yeah. It's mercy. Okay, let's see if you can continue the streak.
Rodog. Rodog. Rodog. Yeah.
Yeah. Rodog. Okay, let's see the next one.
Ripper
5 for 5
Okay, let's have a look at 6
Alon?
Alon
That's a really good skin, Shima's skin
It's a good skin
Shima's skin is really good
It's a good skin
Is Alon that kind of skin?
Really?
Yes
There's no color
Alon
Oh
This one's freaky
Yeah, it's Kerika
Who's the victory player?
It's the first time
Okay, let's see if you can redeem yourselves with the last one.
Ah, Moira.
Pink Halloween.
Moira.
Moira?
She's holding it.
Do you have a character?
Do you have to do that with your eyes?
Now, with the O-WATCHER?
Yeah, O-WATCHER.
We haven't tried to trick you guys.
You have to look at your legs well.
You look like a character.
You're not Moira.
Your hair is like a Pakistan.
Oh, really?
You're a hero, so you're going to make a decision.
Umm...
Am I going to buy it?
No, no, no, no.
Moira.
Moira?
Oh...
Okay, let's see the reveal.
It was not Moira.
It was soldiers 76.
Oh, unlucky, guys, hopefully you'll be a little bit luckier in your matches.
Good luck. Have fun. Thank you.
Some happy Falcons right there. And we have a very happy Falcon fan.
She goes by the name of Gennaro, and she joins us live to talk about the club championship.
Are you avoiding the allegations? Are you not a Falcon's fan?
If I speak, I am in troubles.
Dad, what we're going to do is we're going to talk about the club championship, which is
A very big topic of conversation when we're looking at ELWC. We even have like a whole totem set up for that as well
So I'm gonna throw you guys a little boss. Okay. Do you know what?
Okay, no way. This is a quiz. No, no, no, no, no, no.
I was pretty on the spot. They're like, I'm surprised.
But do you guys know what the prize pool is for a club champion?
$75 million. Easy.
Easy. You're so cool.
He read the assignment.
I just guessed.
It's kind of really confident.
I think maybe $75 is what the total for the whole event.
30 for the club championship, but what does first place get seven million dollars?
Second place.
All right.
She's pocket money.
What would you buy with seven million dollars?
Yeah.
You.
Oh, wow.
All right, man.
And now I'm looking at Puckett.
Puckett.
So winner first place gets seven million dollars.
So of course that is something that a lot of the organizations are looking to compete
for and to get.
Falcons, as you are a big fan of Puckett, they won it in 24 and 25.
Do you think they can do it in 26?
They are off to a slow start, but I was watching warzone after we finished overwatch last night. His soco was frying
So they could get a thousand points there. It's gonna come down to chess potentially
Can they take down Magnus Carlson at the end of it all or will they wait for Nico and CS go to pull them through?
They got a few options, but this is the most uncomfortable. They've ever been in a club championship
I'm silly correct, and it's not just Falcons that are struggling with this
It's also team liquid wish was the runner up last year guys. They're finishing week forward zero points
Like it's a womp womp situation
It's not looking good. No, I mean did we have expectations for them in Overwatch to at least make it's top eight? No
I mean, honestly, it's been a rough year for them for a team like good in Overwatch. We're not super to surprise
Yeah, but like they added a lot of new pieces in just the last stage
So I think the last few weeks for them was just like finding a footing finding their identity
So going up against international competition like that, like it wasn't theirs to win as I said yesterday zero points for
I know which is a horrible position to be in they have 10 titles that they're competing in but Falcons got 20
teams competing they have a thousand four hundred points
But it's kind of going back to last year where Falcons actually was the only team that they were the only title that they're able to win
Was over a while so coming here as a title defenders
You got to expect them to win it again because if you don't win, you don't even get the chance to lift that trophy or get that $7 million, regardless of how many points you have.
Oh, they had a rough year in Overwatch thus far, so they're only really just now turning it up.
So maybe this is the, I don't know, Cinderella run here?
I mean, taking that lost away, well, it's not a great sign for Falcons, right?
To your point, you know, getting that win is so crucial.
Overwatch is a tough game to do it, though, because there's fierce competition right now.
I mean, Crazy Raccoon, super-threatening, twisted minds as well.
as well. There's a lot of heavy hitters coming for that first slot. For Falcons, a win would be an overperformance.
I want to talk about Twisted Minds as well, because they were fourth last year when it comes to cup championship on par with VP.
So that's the first match that we have today. So either one of these teams, if you get top 8 as an automatic 200 points,
do we want to throw like our predictions in the ring?
Courts. I ride with Courts any time he's at an event.
You ride it down. Honestly, that's fair. I think it's going to be extremely competitive.
It's been extremely competitive in the EMEA region, especially between those two teams.
teams. It was a change of like royalty. VP really stepped it up this year when undefeated
and twisted minds that kind of struggled for a few weeks trying to find their footing in
this meta. But I think at the right time they started turning it up and their initial performance
is here. I have actually impressed me. Struggling seems to be the name of the game
though for a lot of the organizations that did well last year in the club championship
because then like when we look at twisted minds, they were forward. But if we're bringing
up the standings and look at where they are sitting right now, it's about 12. They're
really struggling to get some bell some points under their belt and it's just not looking good
whereas Navi is currently first 2,250 points they've already got two wins which is incredible
because i don't think anyone was really counting on them to be able to show up and i know there's not
too relevant uh to Overwatch i mean Navi Overwatch roaster when
they put them back in the points here in Overwatch well Navi is not here but vertus pro
is there in the number two spot.
Ginny, thank you so much for joining us.
We got to get to this first match though.
Do you think VP wins it?
I'm going to have to say no, because otherwise I will get
schmurdered by Fancy.
That's really fair.
No schmurdering happening on this show.
Let's jump into the action as we remind you,
how Virtus.pro got to this position to play
into the playoff bracket.
So the impressive plays all across the board
landed and joined us in the post show.
And it was all smiles for the young star.
What have you seen from the back line?
And who have you enjoyed watching on the front line?
I mean, honestly, for this team, I'm just enjoying it.
Everyone Kevser is playing some of the best over what he has in his entire career.
Okay.
He's crazy since he's been around the block.
Yeah.
But, you know, Ice-Nom is still just one of the players to watch out for here with the flexibility.
We talked so much about his glow-up that he had over the last couple of months, last year even.
So for him to be like this, this younger player, this newer player playing with those veteran players,
in the rest of the squad. Asia's matching really well.
Jake, this of course is our Sony story of the day.
It's the clash of the EMEA powerhouses for anyone
who doesn't watch, overwatch on a regular basis.
Why is this such a big battle?
I mean, over the last couple of years,
you would have said Twisted Minds are a heavy,
favorite squad, but Virtus.Pro, this year,
they've stepped it up in a huge way.
This squad, right now, they're the top in EMEA.
However, Twisted Minds, for me, they're a team
that they don't really show their true form
until it comes to a LAN.
This is a team that takes qualification for granted,
and is really looking to get these meddling performances
on LAN, and honestly, for VP,
I'm hesitant to call them much of a favorite,
given that history of Twisted Minds
popping off from the pressure diet.
So, I don't know if you hear it,
but the drums are here for Twisted Minds.
They're on a D.
See you of pink and blue making their way into the stands.
TM, they travel well.
They've got a strong fan base.
If you're looking for strength in their gameplay,
what do you like?
Well, honestly, I like the changes that they made coming into here, right?
Like they made some changes in what they like to play.
We talked about how they avoided the Cat Bastion throughout the last stage.
Now they really picked it up in their first match already.
They looked really, really good, really competent.
UV is in the mix very much for them, of course.
And he's doing such a phenomenal job, not just on the server,
but it's the shot calling, it's the veterans' seat,
it's the strategic depth that he brings to this team as well.
So right now they're looking really scary.
Could Twisted Minds win without a Symmetra in the game, Jake?
I mean, they've shown that they can, right?
Especially in this first of two format,
typically you'd look at that and say,
hey, this should be a weakness.
You know, a sim band is gonna be one of three maps
in the series.
Like that should hurt Twisted Minds,
but you'd be shown he's so much more than a sim one trick.
I mean, it's definitely the most dangerous weapon
in the Twisted Minds arsenal,
but they've shown that they can get wins without it.
And that makes them a very difficult opponent
to prepare for.
CVNT, a much better player than he is drummer,
but he got to celebrate with the fans
at the end of their last match.
Will he do it again?
Well, if you're looking at the numbers,
TM has had their edge in the Champions clash.
They also took them down in the EMEA Stage 1 finals
and the regular season.
So recently though, that match was a 3-0 with a Virtus.Pro.
And Twisted Minds was struggling.
Virtus.Pro have been just basically unbeatable,
untouchable up until the playoffs where they started
to actually drop maps.
Twisted Minds had to work for those,
and Virtus.Pro has still looked really, really strong.
Your eyes are so blue on this set today.
So here's Jake, let's start with you.
Who is going to win this one?
Just kidding, you got to run out of blue eyes.
I've got twists and minds.
This is a team that turns up to another level on LAN.
It's a bit of a chaotic prediction,
but I still think this is going to be their day.
So, and I go in the other way.
It's time to send it to the stage
to get our first match of the day started.
The best players in the world, the best teams in the world, you won't say because that's
WC is over us.
This looks so good for us, but jeez, and they're just going to pull through the fucking ladder!
What is control play?
Assault after assault after assault from J.E.G.
These team play a guilt streak as well as the pineapple.
Hello Paris, Bonjour Paris!
Yesterday we learned how the Overwatch Champions Series 2026
mid-season championship at the Esports World Cup, the winners are rewarded, of course they are,
but losers, it's brutal, it's punishing, it's crushing, quite literally, Lynn.
Yeah, it is quite brutal for the losers. Bonjour tout le monde, hello Ian.
Bonjour.
We had to be with you for this last day of group stage because yes, it is brutal for the losers.
Effectivement, quand tu perds, ta clé se fait exploser.
There's no loser bracket in play-off, but for the winner, you take a look at that trophy,
you compete for $1 million prize pool, and it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, the
further you go.
And two teams looking to get their hands on this trophy and a big piece of pie across
two of EMEA's big dogs.
Les Tunes, Los Ailes, La Monnée, yeah, you go for it.
Shall we bring them out?
Go, let's go.
Please welcome, on to the stage, Virtus Pro!
They went undefeated through EMEA Stage 2 and survived the 7 map regional final to claim
the number one seed.
On opening day here in Paris they've carried that same authority onto the international
stage.
Today they face the reigning world champions and a win here does more than reach the playoffs.
They make it clear that EMEA's new number one is ready to challenge for the world number one.
There's some booing here, but here they are, twisted!
More!
The crowd's favourites, the OWCS World Champions, crowned in Sweden last year.
Some of their players are contestants to the title of the best players in the world.
The pride of Saudi.
Finally, a team of players who can rival with the Korean hegemonies in any case in 2025.
Can they be great? Again.
Ladies and gentlemen, the EMEA Derby is calling.
On one side, the team that conquered the region.
On the other, the team that conquered the world.
Today, only one of them secures the first playoffs place in Group A.
Paris, makes them nice!
Well, folks, you asked for a bit of a banger, and frankly, we're about to deliver it.
The championship experience versus championship form.
Let us, bro, might have won the latest chapter of the twisted minds in here to remind us who wrote the book, Matt.
Yeah, I mean, but VP has been unreal as of late.
You know, a lot of talk about like kind of Kevser coming back into form and I believe that's true.
I think really kind of what's elevated this team, though, is obviously adding Landon and Psycho.
And then Ice Nome has been the best tank in the NBA this year, I would say.
You know, Ziad obviously making a comeback, you know, for that title and crown, you know, with GK,
which we'll see a little bit later today.
But TVNT on the other side had been really kind of the go-to, you know, really kind of star player in terms of that role in EMEA.
Probably since the mid-season championship last year. But really, IceNorm has been unreal here the last few months.
At that time, IceNorm was being rotated in to play Symmetra on Virtus.Pro. There's a weird time the last few years IceNorm woke up.
But now he's found his home and he has certainly risen it to the occasion and we've been a risk if we didn't
address the elephant in the room.
Psycho was a huge opponent of twisted mind success last year
even if he spent a fair bit of time standing behind the team with that headset on now
He's in the server ready for a bit. He played a good amount for that team like last year
Like maybe not exactly like world finals towards the end, but like you know, he can play tracer
I think you know if you're kind of comparing him and you be at the head
I think like Cyclops hero pool is much deeper
I think I know sim obviously you probably would favor you become maybe the best of the world at that hero
but every other one you kind of get that advantage psycho and
Twisted mind actually just kind of trades psycho essentially for J. Woo thinking okay
Well, they would just fit all that stuff but that exactly has not worked out this season at all
And I think we're here today to address whether or not there's a changing of the guard in
EMEA, Virtus.Pro. Pretty impressive stuff in Stage 2. There were scrappy matches to get them of course
to that championship. GK'd over the one that pushed them. Not so much twisted minds.
That's what we're here to see and I think that is a question of whether peeking too early is
an issue right-winning EMEA Stage 2. Very important but you have to consider it in the
landscape of the rest of the year as a stepping stone. It's a qualification game to get you to
events such as these where you can really, really throw down. And honestly, I'm very impressed with
what we've seen from this latest iteration on Twisted Minds. They do want to lean into those
Symmetra comps a little bit more frequently. In the past, it's not exactly been a hallmark
of Virtus.Pro's game plan, the fact that they had to use a tank player instead of a roll.
But now with Seiko, it's a completely different world, right? Obviously, he's going to have a
great read on kind of how Twisted Mind is going to want to set up some of these plays. It'll be
be Nepal. Map number one. I'm curious. Okay, so Afara and Diva ban here. So, Diva gone.
Obviously that's like TVNT is going to go to. So take that out of the equation. Very
good on Ramachra as well, right? But I think that's something that Iceman probably feels
pretty good taking that head to head. Oh man. Europe's old Kings versus Europe's new Kings.
Is anyone throwing a seed on here in Paris? And frankly, there's a large number of other
teams that still stand in the way. So of course, a win here, hooks your ticket to play off,
so loss here does not mean that your tournament is over, but that lower bracket is looking
pretty brutal.
And you're going to play another game today, right? That's like kind of the really rough
sense of it. You have to play another game.
I see the resemblance. You might have a couple inches on course, but outside of that, when
When it's a player, we're going to be spotlighting pretty heavily in this series.
Because when Quartz dominates those sidelines,
Twisted Minds tend to dominate those series.
Still one of the most respected, feared, hip-scan players in the entire world.
This would be an extra brutal loss, I feel like, for VP,
in the sense that you were so good in EMEA,
you kind of put your gap between yourselves and Twisted Minds in that region
during that stage, and then you get that first seed from EMEA,
you come to the event and you lose to TM anyway,
then you have to play another game that day as well.
It's a VP team.
Look, I think either of these teams could be in the final of this event.
That's how good they have been this year.
First Pro and Twisted Minds dotched each other in the EMEA playoffs,
but in the regular group, Twisted Minds got absolutely flattened.
Isn't it a new era for the Bears?
They're changing of the guard in EMEA.
We're about to find out and we're about to delegate our first team
into our eSports World Cup playoffs.
We've seen a lot of teams play in some Domina here throughout this week, we've seen it on
Nepal as well.
Why is Jack such a hider?
I like it.
I mean, it kind of tries to, Domina as a hero, right, kind of wants to fit that poke style
that like a sick wood, it's just sick, it's like really good at everything.
Potentially Domina, though against some Reinhardt could be a favorable matchup as, it'll be
Simbassion for both sides as well. Just a difference in terms of the tank.
Alright, let's play some Overwatch. Folks, I'm just trying to start things up and already
Icegum is trying to poke down. TVNT on the Rhine though. It's going to be looking to close the gap
whenever possible. Nice little TP there, get some Dremel and a line of sight. This Domino
wall is still relevant in this position. Yeah, you're able, you know, with the Domino Rage,
They're just kind of putting consistent damage out on that Rhyne shield, but
Quartz finds Peps through there on a little bit of an off angle.
That's pretty massive. Also Bastion with a high right of fire.
Can't really shoot through these Domino Barriers quite quickly.
Sarkoze's gonna be the next to fall and Quartz has already stepped his authority on the early part of this round.
I wonder if you're gonna see some changes from VP as they back on out, but
Isil actually catches Quartz there. Quartz
and maybe pushed up a little bit too far. Didn't assume TP to get out. That's a huge pick off.
There was looking for more, but TBMT can staple.
The vast majority of this is not going to damage it.
Quick about face there for Virtus Pro, as they see the Tiki getting twisted behind
in position for a consumer rush.
TBMT needs to charge back.
He needs some help, but his shield is cracked, and he is about to fall.
The damage, just too much here for Virtus Pro.
Snow falling off that early pick on Quartz,
he didn't even have a chance to return to the fights.
And the scary thing when you're kind of watching a lot of these fights
and something that's just going to keep an eye on,
like we talk about this kind of tank head-to-head,
Ice Knob is like close to like 80-90% HP, pretty much throughout these fights.
Really not taking any significant threat damage there on the Domino.
Despite Reinhardt experiencing reduced ground control effects,
Matt, you can still stun him if he's close enough to the wall for that Sonic Repulsor.
His Ice Knob pent up to the ready to be a symmetrical all-in-play.
This is gonna reduce Ice Knob's effectiveness pretty drastically,
and TVNZ is trying to use his window to close the gap.
It does happen, but it's trying to block Ice Knob!
Not ideal at all. Vixxer hoping to live up to his name perhaps in this fight, but it's too little and too late here.
For verse pro.
And they had the advantage of having the Kutsune rush and potentially a better beat.
The beat is just too late there from Vixxer.
Oh, what is this?
Second and two from behind. Now they're just gonna go off, you know, train poke.
Maybe see if they can get somebody out of the spawn.
Also getting up there and taking some of the damage loss, simply get closer towards the rush as well, so...
Don't mind that you have an easy escape with the Sin TP.
Okay, TNT has the density shield if all is possible.
A TP to get himself back.
Giving really.
Setting TP and TNT up to it.
Just sort of pick some of the issues to try and have mobility innately.
Yeah, they want to farm this rush, right?
They're okay now giving the point back to TP.
They want to farm the rush and you also have Shadow of Dental here.
TNT has no shield.
He really needs to walk up and try and find exactly a big earth shadow.
It's been a rush here from Simple, Pan-Ups from Waspe, used to buy Ice-Snow, but it's going to be Quartz, he's the first casualty in this fight!
What an ice-shatter from Ice-Snow! That is ridiculous!
TBNT flattens his opposing tank, and Ice-Snow was found without a barrier!
Aw, you know, that's the downside, right? The barrier is static as soon as you get on past it, even though TBNT's shield is being worked down that entire time.
Doesn't matter, huge shatter connects with three, both supports caught up in the tank as well.
The fire strikes just leaving everybody as TM opportunity to close it out here.
Beat versus Rush.
That's the really way you're looking at.
GDNT squeezing every point of value out of that variant.
Using it to get exactly where he's most effective.
GDNT rushing to a good spot on the point and that catcher is trying to charge forward.
GDNT cheek-witchedly trying to back over.
There's not enough time. It's a late beat this time.
With twisted minds, they're gonna try to fight with 4 and so far Quartz has even the ledger.
Kepster's down, the lying chair of the damage if a Virtus Pro has gone missing.
Ice Nub wants the surge forward here but he's gonna keep an eye on his HP.
Fix that, this time it's a beat on time. Ice Nub makes effective use of it,
staying alive and eventually Quartz is brought down.
But Ice Nub is gonna be the trade for it. Kutuna rush coming down from Simple and here is TVFT
of the Doomfist of all things. A TP out for Virtus Pro, but they've gotta try and contest this
And they're off to points!
TDNT comes back on the Doom. They have the rush there available over the point.
And then Quartz doing a great job on the Bastions there early on, but
this playstyle, Mitch, it's really comfy. Quartz twisted mind, right? We've seen him play the Reinhardt a lot.
the wini and the airy team and dude already at this event hot start there for ice
and go on the dominoes six shatter both supports yeah
she doesn't get much better than that if you had told me a month or two ago that
I'd be watching domino versus Reinhardt on crime yeah it told me a month or two ago
you were here I would have been surprised but hey you know twisted mind this is
about money talks as they push off here now they're gonna be playing sick right
So, VP I think has a slight advantage in this comp, right?
Playing that Rematra into the SIG, and with that, Sojourn as well is going to some poke down the tier as GM wants to take control of the bridge.
That's a pretty safe angle to play for him, but his sidelines are rather limited here.
Still an opportunity to say, oh, okay, TP in front of him, Jimmy's going to get brought down.
A little bit dangerous for Sivirnik's front lines, especially against Rematra.
Even though Sigma is not able to protect him,
the pivoting and composition of that is probably looking to be more comfortable now for them.
Quartz is still at large, but all of his architecture has been plucked out from under him.
The Ram matchup into Sigma, like it's not, you know, like they, you wouldn't say it's like a hard counter,
like you need to swap right away. It is a really great matchup though, right?
I mean, I don't like it, but they move over.
Like, Rematra Puck's Nemesis Form, you know, that's actually a vortex that can encounter
a UV there and then a rail-down shot.
The, you know, Nemesis Form, obviously, all those punches from the Rematra,
going past the shield of the Sigma through the kinetic grasp,
it makes it almost impossible to live.
Yeah, it's honestly, it's just the speed burst, that little impulse that gets you past the Sigma.
Yeah, creation is annoying, but you're so durable in that Nemesis Form that, yeah,
rarely can that stun be converted into an elimination.
And SIG also has no mobility to really dodge like annihilation, right?
Yeah, you need the Perk where you can sort of try and knock back the Rematra with the melee hits.
Aislam has an annihilation.
Still waiting on the prime opportunity to use the Vitex, but this is dangerous.
This is a very risky off angle, but there's the annihilation. It takes some eyes off him.
And it works perfectly.
BBNT's falls back. He's just switched to the Rematra, so needs to build that ultimate up.
Aislam does relatively well to hold this space.
And get better support at 60%, but Twisted Minds have a chance to break in.
And they're going to be behind this in the funny after it can return in time.
This is bullsh**t, like a horrid on this guy!
You'd be picked off, but it was a point flip!
Kemps still needs to fight for it!
And his teammates will filter back in to try and capture.
Yeah, Fixer getting down there, just kind of contest the point.
You're gonna get the Romantra back here as well.
It's Fixer getting closer to a beat.
Gonna have this matchup.
Funny Astros, just...
TM did end up looking at the point during all this.
Yeah, that is probably even behind it.
Kemps is ultimate there.
He's gonna be able to turn that into a flip back.
Otherwise, they'd be in a much more threatening position.
Still, the story is matching beats here for these two teams,
and you just gotta be careful.
We've picked off Mercy quite a few of these fights.
We've got two steam walls in play.
This is quite confusing.
It's like a house of mirrors out there.
No team wants to be the first to beat them, right?
Both Lucio's trying to hold onto this to get the advantage
in terms of the sound barrier.
Yeah, the walls break it up too much as well.
You just don't want to take any risks,
but at this risk,
the device will get the cat to the center
as a result of this reluctance.
GVM team wants to try it.
Nobody's here.
Keep this pointed.
It keeps the thought he was back capped there is constantly playing this off angle and credit to him that because it's dangerous to do that
He's staying alive in most of these scenarios
Still the beat being held onto
Big Zay, flinks first, but he's already lost land of the timing for these beats has been tough to line up
And this map so far
D&T's annihilation though is now in play and all the ice knob subjected to a very little assistance
I mean losing land in though is absolutely brutal there for VP
You know, he would have ended up having the rush.
It also allows simple to hold on to his rush, his twisted minds, his battle back in this
second round, marching themselves towards a map one win.
Rushes for both sides and then Quartzman.
You're going to be able to use this OC pretty safely at range to close it out.
It's the annihilation from Einstein that is going to be what fails for us to throw out
here.
This guy has been sublime this year, definitely the peak of his career and now a lot of responsibility
He falls on his shoulders, get the approach of one, and WHILE THE CAUTIONS SHUT THE FIXER!
Just a little out of the periphery, found by an overclocking there, and Psycho next to a fall.
That's about as good as it gets from CAUTIONS.
Now sure, there's a flip amongst this, because Ice Nob's annihilation demands respect,
but Twisted Minds have the numbers of CAUTIONS, has the brace of KILLS!
Had trick now!
Redaptivine DPS, one of the best in the world to do it!
And Kepter is under extreme pressure.
Holding this off fangle there, he can barely peek out.
There's no healing force in either of the prospect of a touch.
Frankly, it's unrealistic.
Watch out for twisted minds that land.
These guys are a different beast.
With the way that quartz uses overclock on the searcher,
it's like it's got tag-clash, man.
I mean, it's crazy.
It's every time it's like, what, two kills minimum?
I mean, right here just takes out Fixa.
The next one just gonna delete Psycho coming around the corner and he has a headshot there at range.
Just an absolute MVP for 4 minutes from Quartz there early on.
And that is what Hedgeson was trying to do for the entire round.
Playing a very obvious off angle, getting Kira for healing when needed.
But Quartz really showed him up there.
Look if you tell twisted minds if you're to tell them at the beginning of
This series hey, you're gonna have a mere matchup and you're gonna get a quartz
You know soldier head-to-head and just like you know that's we're gonna have to play through to win the game
They would take that in every series against anybody in the field. I mean that's that's like there
That's like their specialty right and head down to the stage with Ian and someone who showed us fantastic hospitality in Riyadh at last year
It's fancy
I'm here with the twisted minds fans
And the big dog of TM himself, Fancy, you guys have got to be feeling good right now.
I mean, we already said it, VP versus Twisted Minds, yes we didn't do well against them
in the EMA stage 2, but it's time to take revenge and we're going to win this game
and it's going to be a 2-0.
Everyone knows that.
I'm a big fan of your fans, right?
You've travelled a long way to be here, all the way from Saudi Arabia.
How passionate are these fans and your fans about getting back to championship winning
ways here?
I'm just so happy that everyone is here today, honestly, without them, we wouldn't be here
winning against VP, the champions of EMEA for Stage 2, and I think we proved ourselves
in November when we won Stockholm, when we became the world champions, but I think it's
time to win EWAC as well, and this is it.
You're gonna hear it first, I've got to ask as well, you don't want to drop into that
lower bracket, it's so important not to go down into what I like to call the crocodile
swamp because it gets snappy down there.
If you do get the win here and progress, your chances must feel really strong going forward
into the next phase.
I mean winning this match or this map, you only will map away from spotting some points
with the club championship and it's all about the club championship because they score 12
cups.
So one game, we're going to win this one, we're going to win the next one and we're
going to stop crazy raccoons and we're going to take it from Falcons and we're going to
watch it right here.
Well look, I'm tricked out and twisted mind stuff right now so I'm going to chill with
the fans here.
I think I'm a converted TM guy.
I'm gonna watch them back to you guys for the game.
Let's go!
Last year in Stockholm,
but OWC as well finals,
Twisted Minds, World Championship was a revelation.
Yeah.
Here in Paris, especially here in the fans,
it feels like an expectation.
I mean, it's really impressive, really.
What fancy and the rest of the TM
kind of organization squad have done, right?
This is like a really an overwatch started out as like a tier two organization, right?
Playing in computers, yeah, like grassroots, and then I know obviously with opening up with OWCS,
they have developed, I know, into an absolute juggernaut in overwatch.
And it's been a sight to see some of the more exciting games we've had the opportunity to be a part of.
We've always kind of included twists and minds and kind of their interesting style of play as now.
I'm curious where VP wants to take me.
I think that VP made the correct choice, starting with their mantra on.
you
Here for the domino who can offer you that consistent long range damage and can perk into
a really empowering per blaster to work over longer distances.
Yeah we'll see you FAST.
TM you see there where they TP up that high ground they have bryan heart shield there's
like almost nothing you can do here in these things.
This is like, they were so good in the MEA, when this like, kind of strat has been available,
but then we seem to have banned the Reinhardt against them in the MEA when we go to the
armjunction.
And this is obviously something that, you know, VP not surprised, like, playing in the
region.
They know it would potentially be a strat here, if I'm DM.
This feels awkward because very surprised Cops, especially their tank plan, are not designed
to close the gap of the role, but they need to, because they devise a setting up on these
So the high ground fire teach points and being a real issue simply playing it off. I'm good
Just for a time
Here's a Tp now front instead of the twisted lines
There's an opportunity to push into the
Okay, that Tp short range cycle they get from the high ground, but he's escape method nobody available
I mean the dominant knock is good, right just getting them out of your face
But still, I mean, just the space creation from the Rime, you see TV and D just swinging away.
I still don't want to kind of move on in and they're trying to stagger out.
I mean, I don't know what he's supposed to make happen to me.
I still obviously must get damage with a mitigated heavily by shields.
Twisted mines are propelled by the burners, but God, they're still...
And the thing is, right, so like, uh, Kevser uses, uh, you know, you know, Turret Mode there on the Bastion.
They TP up to the high ground, where he doesn't really have an angle and the Rime Shield is in the mix,
And then they're able to kind of the TP right back to the low ground there is to twisted mind and in fight
I mean, it's a really brutal come to play into I'm surprised that
Doesn't expect this more
I mean, this is something twisted mind, but you watch me and me and stage 2 they do all the time
Yeah, it's in the VP wanna pick this map and play it of his style, but so fun. I'm so bad
You can leap out of TMS, but get up in the high ground that was enough to unravel the defenders
But a lot of time was played on this guy's point defense.
Yeah, and it's a rush they're used by VP, so...
For Twisted Minds.
It'll be a little bit harder though for them to kind of like...
You know, you're not going to have that natural high ground, you're not going to play over by the train.
You see where they kind of TP up to now?
VP trying to take that spot away here at the moment.
They don't want to naturally like kind of TP in here and just like play from that high ground here again.
I was always going to be shepherding the cart forward while the rest of the bros abuse this high ground.
Dems are up here just flogging away. This is free real estate for verse pros.
Prist and mines are gonna likely cut up into this underclass before they take a flight
into the next one.
Why not wants to beat up on the core?
See they're playing ice like far alone with everybody else in the back.
They wonder if they believe that TVNT has a shatter. They're just trying to beat them,
isn't it?
Or let's say TVNT gets a press of honor, they just TP him out and then that's when the
Domino can start kind of taking control with some of the post.
some of the foes. And we are over two minutes into the game so tracking a chat from the
grind is unsurprising. Oh wow! Okay Swackle didn't pick up, he was huge! The other sprints
have to, the old fashioned way, turn tail and get this ground up. Or stall. This next
site's going to be crazy man. Everything available on both sides. These support ults, obviously
so important. He saw some late feats in map number one, which you see is the TV, but
can't quite clear it. It looks like a lot have been advised those twisted minds have
found a low ground shot. It comes in, catches out, psycho! Surely that's enough!
The TVNT snatches up his hat trick!
Huge shatter there from TVNT.
The DM, look at how impressively they are, it's going to give you this artillery, like
this right in front of VP, they just TP out, they certainly think that.
You get to get a charge into position now, Virtus.pro have to flip the map essentially,
this card is getting away from Twisted Minds, this is going to force their head, sooner rather
than later I imagine, you can stand up briefly, might have been a no skip, like I slumped Sam
buried down for Virtus.pro, it's funny Astro already used his, TVNT is down, Virtus.pro's
map flipped, Gambit seems to have played off so far, no tank, Twisted Minds now kind
I'm trying to, what are you talking about?
Hopefully just stall with their bodies, but that's all I can manage.
Yes, you're just gonna die some stuff.
Crazy there.
With a 4k, it looks like, as I think, you know, you actually did connect with a few players with that common halt.
I think there's a Zuzu that comes in the mix, and you take a look from his POV.
Bam, bro.
Yeah, you know, the knock is so strong.
I mean, if you connect into a wall, right, there's like a brief stun.
And eventually they kind of slipped sides again here.
It's not ideal for Christian Mayer.
No, I'm going to force him to take the fight and he'll also force Eris.
I see an ultimate shield coming out from Kepster.
Quartz has these available now too, but he's in a bit of an awkward spot to be making use of it.
Still going to throw it down and try and get Heisman lowered up to force him away.
It seems to have worked!
Heisman succumbs!
Simple, he's just going to make sure Quartz is nice and top-dupped,
because his work is far from done.
This time around, it's a very different outcome as Virtus Pro flipped the map.
And uh, it's definitely trying not to get staggered there, but it's gonna end up happening.
So that is the rush though, that Tm has to use.
They need probably one more fight.
Shatter plus their sim wall pretty good.
Even with double support ult on the other side, might be good enough to do it.
Yeah.
TbNT has to navigate psycho sim wall though, if he wants a powerful shatter, unless he's
gonna just rip it out.
Or you just wait it out, right?
He has to correct it, try to see.
That would have been bad.
Not really a safe spot to stand up there, very few of them anyway, they're giving a scifi inside after them.
It's made a feats.
GDNT shall the SH- OH IT'S A FEET SHALLEN, YOU'RE CANNING ME!
Samurai came through though, Fitsa was not knocked to the ground, but it's not an upkeep cycle alive.
Massive from twisted minds on this defense now, it's bonus pro sand timer, it's getting a little slim.
24 seconds left and Kevser is in absolute no robot slam.
Nice number, he's nowhere to go, he knows he's gonna get buffeted around by the hammer and won't be allowed to escape.
Yeah, you know, it looks like it's gonna be Landon who does make it out with his life, but still, you're not gonna have ice back, at least on the Domina here.
Inject the Rhine seam copy into my veins, man. It is insane.
It's a lot, you know, trying to get a touch here, take some damage, not gonna be able to get onto the payload.
And that is where it ends
So dude, this is one of the better maps for TM playing this comp
It's a product
I mean look BP probably feels like they knew what they were gonna do when they feel confident enough to beat it with that strat
But I'll be curious when we talk to like a
At the desk what their read is on it, especially Jake
I mean we fasted this exact map with these we twisted my bunch of times and like I
Did you take in the back knew exactly what was going to happen and probably a little bit shot
They're not trying to be funny, but now, if you know, then why don't VP, or why are their expectations so different from them, so, you know?
Ah, no, I mean, they didn't feel like, and look, we don't know what they could have overcame in streams, things like that.
They did Domino comp, and they're really gonna overwell me.
Okay, let's blow up Combin' Attack for a passion cut to Moga.
Yeah, so, I mean, look, hey, I mean, that's a great call from Ubi, right?
They're gonna play Domino, just play the Moga, right? You can play, like, Cap-bashing with the Moga, and just gonna run.
run because the thing with Domina is the shield is static right you can't you can't move I mean
there's the major I'm moving around but it's that now get is unstoppable during
shoulder charge. Domina does not do anything she does not interact with it she simply gets run into
yeah and a pretty static target at that so we'll see that's gonna be Ramatra here on defense for
VP so a much different look it'll also be the Freya you'll see why UV is so important to this team
Yeah, moments like that. He already has the plan.
Yeah, this is a... I think this is a...
So, look, the MAGA isn't as powerful into the Rematras, let's say.
You know, it was coming on the other side, but...
Double flyer here. This is unplayable for Kepster.
That's fucked up!
To say the least.
It's a little challenging to interact with the EJB on the threats, and you can see Kepster is just pretty taken-top for us.
Astro is gonna be able to kind of help both of these UD endcourts stay in the sky forever.
Yeah, the Pharah poke is so nasty to play through, but also you take a decent amount of damage from the Pharah you're dealing with the Bastion.
You can't use this position at all.
Yeah, it's just denied, right?
Well, by the Pharah as well, right, the Conk at the high ground, like it's just completely denied.
Is this fight just over?
No, the think of course is pretty important.
If I close down as an egg or blue for ability, it's limited.
Kepston's gonna have to get in here and really get his hands dirty.
One tick and counting.
The faults are not that easy though to connect with some of these players.
Yes, you know, maybe playing a cast of the era of Soldier.
Ice Nom's health fire is important.
He's trying to contest, he's actually doing well, but duty can find an off angle.
Oh, nicely done by Kepston.
Sleuth set out pretty quickly.
Full shot.
He's throwing into the mix.
A new result off the back of the car when CTM is still fighting for that high ground.
This is a lot of heal pressure to put on Gertus Krombeck.
So far they're keeping Isnob in the fight.
It's getting a little dicey from though.
He has to give up that second tick now.
VP has to commit this is it.
Get to their rush, fucking it from Landon.
The Isnob's going to get the healing that he needs.
CTM's getting under extreme pressure.
Nubius and Krombeck down.
Nice vortex going into the backlight.
We didn't miss that one.
And Sycho up on the card.
Just trying to make a selection of targets.
What's caught in the distance that Isnob loops and bounds in the direction of the Bastion.
I assume just under a spot of pressure, but
VP able to keep him alive. TNT hold on here.
Wait, what?
No, I don't need a TVNT! What is that?
But it's probably given him a series of 1v1s and he is grinning from ear to ear like an anime villain.
Is there a hero?
You onto 1v1 less than Mogel? Let's take a look at this.
Stomp gets landed, obviously doesn't have a suju, now there's a 40hp, and then the body at go under kicks in.
Man!
It's back up to 500 pretty much.
I think he's got to make a health pack.
Yeah.
Jesus, that is very pituitous timing.
But I still doesn't feel like you can turn a fight even if he's contrasting the points.
Aw, that's a rough way to lose that.
I mean, DP looked like that was going to be for sure a fight win.
That's going to be the twice he...
Pristin mines now, he's gonna catnap at the ready, Barrage is gonna be there as well for you, the first of a kates fight, he's gonna catrash, he's gonna get nowhere, getting out of this right now, it's way out into the town square, has his IDs exposed!
You better know he's gonna be picked up by Ketster, another good vortex, Kort's gonna be pulled out but he's hit direct by a bollister and Ketster might have saved the fight here for Virtus Pro!
I think this is a good idea here, ditching the cat as well, the kind of ground bastion
setup that Twisted Minds has played is yeah, you don't play, but let's get that Rimeback
out, right?
I mean, why not?
That's a bit of a joke.
I just don't have moments where he can contain the TVM team.
What's the response here?
I guess let's pull this evade with this Bastion of the Old Belos like old.
Good Suzu there.
Well done, the nice guy.
Knocked out the life along enough.
That is a nice headshot there from Simple and VP have no business being here right now.
It is a full, full VP issue though.
that BP. I mean you see where the box of victory is series on the line I mean
you're gonna have to just throw bodies at this. That simple pick, right over the bottom
line, let us roll in one fell swoop. There's a contest here in the far, far reaches of this
neon junction map. It's ice and I'm playing up close on the card. Gets over the ball,
the shot needs to connect. It might be too little too late again. Ice and the cycle are
But down it twisted might have returned to form here in land where it really caps.
They not chop a 2-0.
That was pretty convincing 2-0 as well, right?
And earlier hyping this one up, I thought this was going to be a tremendous game we've seen back and forth between these teams in EMEA.
And I mean, this is a gut punch for Virtus Pro.
You are so good in Stage 2, you had TM's number at every moment, you come into this event,
I get really almost all these players playing at the peak of their powers,
and TM just rolls up, it's an easy two up.
Years and years of experience between these two, and some banter by the looks of things there,
between Funny Astro and Ice Numb,
and Vindication for Twisted Minds.
The captain eyes set on this event and getting here was the main folks of States too.
So they didn't win.
So they didn't come second.
It doesn't matter anymore.
Now they got a chance to fight for one of the biggest accolades, the biggest trophies,
the biggest prize pool of the Overwatch calendar year.
They have reminded us exactly what World Champion Pedigree looks like.
If you get court shooting like this, how he was on the soldier, and I mean they will
be just about anyone, but huge win, court twisted minds, let's go to the stage with
Ian and Fonny Astro.
I've managed to find the only other Brit in Overwatch, Fonny Astro joins me right now,
a little bit taller as well, but it's great to have you here, congratulations on a very
dominant win there.
did you expect your EMA arrivals to give you a little bit more there?
I think I expected a little bit more from them.
I think we honestly played really, really well today,
and I think our strats were just better.
Yeah, they were. And I think that, speaking of those strats,
when you look back to your World Championship win last year,
and then I guess a little dip in form since then,
you've obviously made some adjustments.
Can you give us a little bit of insight into some of the changes you've made?
I think we'd just like to take time off in the off-season, to be honest.
we're a little rusty when we
came back at the start of the
year, but we're definitely
finding our form again. You
absolutely are. And I think a
big part of enjoying the win
and celebrating a wing like
that is having the fans like
this, making the noise that
they've been making. Do you
want to give a shout out to
these guys who were cheering
you on all the way through
that matchup? I mean, these
fans are the best. They're
amazing. I love the drummers
as well. You can always hear
them in the background. I
mean, it's just it's just
incredible. You're going to
win this thing? Yeah, of
course. Congrats on a big
win there for the Astro. It's
And we'll keep this show going.
We've got more matches to come very shortly.
And we are back much sooner than expected.
We got Jake and Zoe ready to break down all of the action,
all two games of it.
As we see Twisted Mind celebrating in front of the fans,
Jake, I had a feeling when I saw that train coming in
with the drums that Twisted Minds would be feeding off
the energy.
It looked like they sure did.
This is just a team that you don't know their true form
until you take on the challenge on stage here at LAN.
This is the twisted minds that you'll need to beat
if you want to lift the trophy
here at the Esports World Cup.
Zoey, I love the Reinhardt play.
TVNT is becoming a fan favorite in the room.
He is of course celebrating on the drums right now
with everybody in the front row.
What kind of energy are you seeing for this team?
And what is their ceiling?
High energy ceiling is
It's at the very top. I don't think there is a ceiling for the monestee
They kind of go beyond that. I think the changes they have made ever since the stage and how much comfortable
They look now in this meta because it did look shaky
They did seem to struggle a little bit to find what's comfortable with them
But yesterday TV and T on the roadhog as well them now now finally playing the bashing cap
I think it just was really really solid for them and Jake you heard funny Ashrow saying I think we just had better
strategies. So can you break that down for the casual fans? What was the difference maker in the
compositions? Honestly, it's Tianti on the Rhine. I mean, the Shatters were next level. This is a
hero that very few teams have been willing to experiment with. We saw a bit of it actually in
Japan. Tianti was one of the first players to bring it back out, but this historically has
fit incredibly well alongside the Symmetra, right? Mitigating some of those mobility issues on the
hero, allowing you to close those gaps. And I don't think there's a better team in the world
then Twisted Minds at getting the most out of the Symmetra.
He got some fantastic shatters, and as you mentioned,
Yubi on the Symmetra seems to be in a tier of his own.
Incredible play across the board.
Kevster, we're hoping he's going to have a great pop-off performance.
He and Psycho seem to be shut down,
simply too many shields to deal with,
and when you have a hammer in your face,
it's not a fun game as a Bastion.
Honestly, I feel like VP somewhat underperformed today.
I think they've showed better performances again.
Very similar in compositions through this, so yeah, maybe he wishes enough faith for them, I don't know.
I thought Kenster played pretty well, like he was finding picks, the Freya looked insane, like he was clutching out these fights, and so, for me, I'm a little scared by this twisted mind.
I mean, this is about as good as they've ever looked. I did notice some moments like Fixie here at the end, held the beat way too long, already lost two players in the final fight, that's going to be something that really stings in the review for them, and I feel like for VP, I mean, this is just the level that has been the issue for this.
Can you really step up on land?
They were fantastic online, but here on stage,
to your point, maybe a little bit lackluster.
Maybe we'd want more out of them.
I mean, they're not out of the tournament just yet,
and they're up against Dallas Fuel and those Lowers.
Is this a surprise to see twisted minds over Virtus.Pro
and Waybo over Falcons?
Is this the way you drew your bracket out?
I mean, I don't think anyone had Waybo over Falcons.
That'd be a little crazy.
Also, I think a lot of people have high hopes
for Virtus.Pro, especially for this event.
I feel like just based on the performance
once they had this passage, we really felt like this is their moment to come out on top
and go beyond what they've previously did.
That is our third team now into the bracket.
We're going to be sending five more forward between now and then.
We got to check in with our co-streamers.
We got two down on the floor.
Poco, what's going on out there?
Me?
Hello?
I got you, Poco.
How you doing, man?
What do you think about that match?
The Reinhardt coming out?
you think about that match with Reinhardt coming out?
I'm into the lights, ready to light, I'm a champion
What's good everybody? Day 3 of mid-championship is about to start
And as you can see, I got my good friends
We've got special guests, we've got Poco and Tio next to me and we are going to do what?
Pick up the car!
Let's go!
All right, let's start off with the first match.
It's going to be Virtus.Pro vs. Twisted Minds.
I am going with Twisted Minds winning 2-1.
What are your thoughts?
No.
I strongly disagree.
I think VP is going to win this 1-2-0.
2-0 against Twisted Minds.
Not even a chance.
How about you?
I talked to Ubi the other day.
He said I've never lost to Virtus.Pro, so I'm going to have to go Tm.
I said Tm.
We're both on Tm's side.
It's only Poco.
That's going for VP.
We'll find out soon.
All right, let's move on to the second one.
GKE sports versus Zeta division. I feel like this is gonna be a very interesting one. I personally think GK is very underrated
I'm gonna give them one map so it's gonna be Zeta winning 2-1 against GK
Okay, maybe I'm delusional, but I think GK is gonna win this one as well. I think you are delusional
Maybe EU bias, but GK 2-1. Okay, I give Zeta one map. You give Zeta one map. All right. Okay. All right, that's crazy
How about you? It's gonna be a 2-0 Zeta. I'm sorry. They're the best team in the world right now. No one can beat him
Pretty fair, pretty fair. We're all divided. I think that's why the matches are going to be interesting. Moving on to the third match of the day, it's going to be Team Falcons vs. T1.
I want to be honest, Falcons looked a little shaky yesterday, I feel like. T1 is on the rise.
This is so hard. Okay, let me go last, let me go last, let me go last.
I mean, what can I say? I think it's going to be 2-0, 2-0 for T1.
Yeah, of course, you're a very strong believer in your teams. Oh, yeah
To oh T1. Yeah. Yeah, I think they have the first big first ban
So that gonna help them a lot and they're gonna just go in don't get mugged charge and just swinging and that's it
Okay, Tio
T1 recently broke the curse of always losing to team Falcons. So I think they're gonna win this time as well
2-1.
You know what? I'll go with you guys. I believe in T1 and I am a big believer in Proud as well.
So T1 winning 2-1 as well. All of us are picking T1. Moving on to the fourth match of the day.
That is going to be Space Station Gaming vs Verral. Let's go Verral! Verral 2-1! I'm going for Verral.
No. No?
No, maybe Space Station 2. I feel like I'm the bad guy.
We're not we're not connected at all for this. Yeah, it's gonna be a 2-1 barrel
Japan seems getting bigger. Hopefully they can get the dub. Okay, and moving on to the decider match
It really depends. I feel like it's gonna be Dallas fuel versus
I think I said twisted minds is gonna win so it's gonna be Dallas fuel versus Virtus Pro for me
And if that's the case, I'm going with Dallas fuel with no, let's go
VP winning 2-1 against Dallas fuel
Yeah, it doesn't matter. I think Dallas is going to lose too. So, yeah.
It doesn't matter who they go for again.
I kind of have to agree. I think either EU team, whichever one comes down, they're still going to beat the Dallas Fuel.
Okay, alright. I agree as well.
Alright, and finally, the final decider match of today is going to be JD Gaming versus, for me, I think it's going to be JD Gaming versus GK Esports.
and I feel like GK is going to win 2-1.
2-0, DK.
It's going to be a first day today.
Just, yeah, be ready to, like, watch the rebroadcast for the drops
because it's going to speedrun.
Okay. Tio, what's your thought? What do you think?
I mean, either Zeta or GK, right?
Yeah, they're both going to 2-0.
ZDT. There's no way they can lose.
No way they're going to lose, all right?
Those are all the matches that we're going to see for today, Poco.
Tyo, thank you so much for your input. Have fun today, and you guys also have fun as well.
Jet lag, not a problem for EMEA squads, but will it be an issue for these two teams?
Zed and Division powering through the competition on day number one.
Reinforce, welcome back to the studio.
ZD the favorites in this matchup. Oh, they gotta be I mean this set of division team bugger
I'll put it this way we could be watching the best team to ever play overwatch and this been a decade of history at this point
I mean the individual players on this team absolutely ridiculous and they can play all kinds of heroes as well
They do not agree here Johnny. That is some high praise. Let's see what the trophy first Johnny
I mean, I agree with you the name value on this TV
I said could, I said could.
But we're in an era of Overwatch where we're calling it early.
There's a lot of disgustingly powerful teams.
I mean Zedah, yeah, you look at the names here, insane pedigree.
I mean, these are all players who've had huge performances in the past,
but what are they actually gonna do?
This is their first true test, I would argue, of the tournament.
This is one that potentially could portend their future
because I think KK have been phenomenal.
In the end, they have been on an amazing positive trend through the stage.
Other favorites have just been exposed.
we saw Waybo taking down Falcons and of course Virtus Pro was just handed a 2-0 beatdown by
Twisted Minds. So now he has entered a division trying to make a statement win against GK and
GK. They've found success in other titles. They had some big games in Warzone last night.
What are the expectations for their Overwatch team? Well, for GK, we got to say that they
reverse swept Twisted Minds in EMEA and they also brought Virtus Pro to seven maps in the EMEA
playoffs and so I think you can just use that as their results being very
favorable for them they are as good as any of these EMEA teams we just saw on
stage now they haven't had the same experience when it comes to the
international stage but they prove that proving themselves regionally that they
can compete with the best. When you looked at their win yesterday over AGL
what did you see from the squad Jake? I thought huge performances in particular
out of Ziad and Alfie right like these guys in the frontline getting
aggressive is going to be key to their success. I think if they want to beat Zedith's vision,
they've got to stay aggressive. If you let players like Chu and Proper get time to work,
I think you're going to be in real trouble. But if you can play this signature brawl style,
you could just get run over here on Zedith's vision. I mean, I wonder for Zedah how accustomed
they will be to this kind of ultra fast-paced tempo out of the NBA. With that Alpha Reversus,
Alpha Yi, that's a fun battle at the end. It's Alpha Yi walking away with the W and we had our own
Danny Lim catching up with the man behind the scenes. Here's what he had to say.
What's good everybody? I'm here joined by AlphaE from GK, ready to go up and dominate Zeta Division.
Are you ready?
Ready.
Okay, all right. I mean, I know you guys had a day off yesterday. How did you use that day to prepare for your match today?
I couldn't practice a lot, so I did scrims for the first time yesterday.
I expected Zeta to use some of his comps, so I prepared as much as possible.
I think I prepared well.
and I feel like we are ready to face Zeta Division today.
All right, how confident are you going against Zeta Division?
They are a really scary team.
Are you ready to beat them today?
I feel like we still need a little bit of practice, but I'm pretty caught up in the game.
I feel like we still need a little bit of practice,
I'm pretty confident in our ability to perform on stage and yeah
I feel like we will be pretty good on stage against Zeta division and perform and give it all give it our all today
All right, I'll play you. Thank you so much fighting
That is Alfie and best of luck to him as only 13% of the fans think GK can walk away with the victory
Actually, it's now been updated to 17% Johnny. Are you thinking GK can pull off the upset?
What do you think I do think an upset is potentially in the cards here because as much as that just glazed out of the vision
Gk they have their results in the media and alpha
He has been a big part of that and he actually was you know a story tracer player back in your machine
But then went over to the support role and I'm thinking like what is this guy doing playing support now back here playing damage?
And not only playing the tracer also the cement draw so fantastic
Kind of form for this guy going into this match from support to a reaper a little bit of a change in his gameplay
This guy was born to play DPS. You can't have you having a guy like Alphie on support.
You want to see what kind of place he can make getting active.
I think it's great to call out the Symmetra. That's a staple in the EMEA. It's a necessity.
It's also a necessity to compete here on the global stage.
And that could be a bit of a stumbling blockboard zeta.
How adept are they on these sim mirrors on LAN?
I expect that to feature prominently in this series.
Alright, keep it a buck, Jake. What is the final score at the end of this match?
I am going to give this one to GK. Maybe it's a bit of a crazy pred,
But I think EMEA has risen to be a genuinely competitive global. Are you serious about the upset set up to well set it to oh
I'm riding with Johnny on this one. It's a numbers game to the top dogs right now
I won a Banger, I got told that that first match was going to be the best game of the
day.
Two EMEA Titans twisted minds insane last year, struggling a little bit now, and Virtus.pro
regional champions were supposed to be the banger of the day.
But it was a blowout unfortunately, but we keep moving here in Paris in the next matchup.
book another spot in the playoffs and it is between two teams who have been
perfect in Paris. That is going to be very interesting with a team that has so
many supporters in Asia, in Korea, in Japan. Please welcome ZELTA division!
We are Korea Stage 2 Champions, a rebel roster that has quickly become one of the most complete
teams in the world.
These are some of the big favourites of the tournament.
A Korean roster with a Japanese tag that is clearly there to shock Paris.
VP, sorry, to the seventh map of the EMEA final.
They then arrived in Paris and swept AGL without dropping a map.
Today, if they beat Korea's number one seed,
Gike will no longer be introduced as EMEA's breakout team.
We'll call them Championship Consenders.
Ladies and gentlemen, it's Ta against DK, it's now!
Zeta division is unreal the roster we talked about. I know dozens of times about how good they are
And it feels like they're due to win an international event UK. I mean look, this is a very very strong team, right?
I know obviously Kellex Zod and lab that together is like a three, you know person unit with no one in checkmate last year at
tremendous results
They still kind of have some of that core together, right?
I know you have Alphie and Finn here instead of those other two players that they had last year that I mentioned
And look the stage one for them was really weird, right? Kellex wasn't on the team. They couldn't really get things going
Freya and Kellex is kind of like we're all back some of that Katya magic they had last year
So I would definitely look out for this team as one is a prize
That's your course always dangerous. Certainly. I feel like the Dark Horse moniker has been in there
I mean, not really like a dark horse team as a pullout final, but yes, but to make a final though is like
That you have to be pretty good. I mean what they are and then they also play in the final in a in Stockholm as well
So like back to back last year
So, I mean, I do think that we should mind this our cats here was one of the most compelling sort of rivalries of last year
But you know, you feel like if you're GK, you're still inheriting this whole like outside chance dark horse
moniker and kind of like me and sort of Harold that they would like to shed that sooner rather than
later. On the Zeta division side it's the same conundrum that faces every team that comes out of
OWCS Korea match. They've conquered the benchmark in Crazy Raccoon. They've sort of you know tamed the
chaos that is that roster. Now they need to export their bread of dominance to the rest of the world.
It's something all of their forebears have been able to do. This is a line up of champions of old
and of exciting prospects for the future, really this should be one they crash through
and guarantee the spot in the playoffs.
The Kiri Dan is interesting, I was going to say. Kiri Lucio feels like Finn and Kellex's
bread and butter that potentially now obviously is gone here for game number one and then they
also get rid of Tracer, right? I don't want to see you running around on that. You know,
even though Alfa, you pretty good Tracer in his own right. They want to play Sim, I think.
Something that we've seen a lot and may come out the rest of the series from Zeta with that jetpack hat style
But it's quite unique for Zeta Division because Violet is the psychopath. Yeah
He's always going looking for the fights
We also saw Violet yesterday like airdrop and proper a bunch and then
Violet has actually the one getting the kills
He's not he's not dropping him off and then like leaving and saying I'll come back to pick you up in a little bit
He's staying around for the party. They're generally unhinged. Yeah always has been
And on previous teams of his he has been as much a strength as a weakness sometimes as an exploitable
Component right you want if you're GK
I really do think much of the discussion is about punishing over extension from violet if and it's a big if
You can I mean lab. There's a tremendous hits game player, right? I know whether it be Cassidy or sojourn
We can also play fashion as well. That's kind of the route that they decided to go to yourself a lot of pressure on him
but he's used to it.
And this is a bit of a reunion for Finn and Violet as well.
Yeah.
Quite a run they had together on that San Francisco squad.
It was like a distant memory at times, but I'm sure there'd be some...
some settling of that score in the server.
And honestly, someone I want to put on everyone's radar before this game begins is Alpegie.
He's still trying to prove that he belongs in that super star conversation,
and it just so happens that proper...
Is that conversation?
He is the veteran!
You want to really put yourself in the forefront of everyone's mind. You have to dominate proper in this game
It's a high bar to set but that's overwatch for you. We're out of the gates here on to Busan
Elari Juno here on Busan to kick things off
Obviously a lot of damage output now with the Elari in the mix
So I already gone so
that's gonna be hard to
sort of work with, I think, is keeping that pylon active and in good spots in spots that's hard to clear.
If you have point controller, I think it's much easier, but getting point control is another thing entirely.
Oh, there's Baradun! Yep, trying to chase down, probably got picked up by Lacta, so that's it.
GK opening the account here, and Ziad very low is trying to touch down.
Shu get a double biotic grenade there, that is punished by Alphie Yi.
So, a little bit of pressure on GK, and still no point cap, it's far too early for that, it's a big fight here in the Mega Room.
Yeah, there's been deep payers actually coming out on top of this right siad finds Bernard there gonna get that diva out of neck
You also I think we're really gonna kick that off right is no shoe is you know put up on that high ground and like thinks
It's a really safe angle. That's a really tough shot for lap day hit actually put a rail gun shot in them
Doesn't take them out but those from the rotate all the way around
Jewish body straight up for the flight ladder who arrived hours before their game a few days ago
The run now has had some time to settle in, and honestly you didn't look like you had any issues against AGAL.
Anyway, that's an interesting game you're playing, sir!
Now it's going to fight over the grenade, and it looks like they should have decided it's their turn to have some point to drop.
At that time it goes way better for Shu up on the high ground, right?
Taking those fights with Wanda, connecting with shots on the Ana to the soldier.
Bob GK, and it's just like, he slides out into a shot of the Ana, then a bash from grenade.
ends up falling so
such an interesting backflying comparison
I know
so yeah
like how do you make it?
I don't have a lot of PLRs
with this
but
I understand that you're putting down
the premise of trying to punish that you've packed out
have like some cause I could scare friends with
I think it's important that the attitude's for life okay?
that's a little bit scary, that's a little bit wrong
how are you trying to get away from the joy ride
that will be chased down by Fnath
the fuck he was having to get on out for the walk
no shoot
okay
shoot
is in mouth and God knows what angle they're gonna have control of the point now.
By the go off the map, Benard is trying to stay safe here in this corner.
A really big opportunity should it be required of me.
He's playing passive right now.
Is this a good little tempo switch?
Because they don't even know they need the reinforcements.
Yes, the RZ but they get back in the back.
It's gonna be OCUs here for Laka as well.
Definitely trying to flip this point back.
Nine shots there.
Taking out nine.
They're gonna end up investing the Orbital ray into this as well.
potentially could have held on to that for another day, Abda with the cleanup there.
And the story of last year was Lapdos' transition to being a more hitscan oriented player, right?
The past year felt like he was very much a part of one trade.
And Quartz was always, you know, considered the hitscan efficiency or teams that they chose to, or both.
Oh, yeah, and the kind of story there, right, is like the twist in mind is basically, tell him, Lapdos,
you're too good to be on the pen, so you need to go somewhere else to play.
the blade and then he goes to Alcatrazia, picks up the hitscan roll, and gives Quartz a proper
run for his money in multiple clashes.
Yeah, look at the buy-in, should've been a little higher.
Either way, 46% accounting for GK, but Kalec's allowed to have re-fallen by the wayside of the field.
Another time, a percentage of vision impact in control.
I mean, did you ever spree here?
Gonna be artillery used?
The incombination of top proppers for you here just trying to get Ziad out of back
because Ziad's doing everything he can to dance around the point, get a close to the tie game.
Will be Zeta looking it back.
Double support, probably not available.
These nanos from Shu on tonight, where Shu is basically a targetable player on the Ana where he's playing from.
Really devastating a lot of teams.
Against the get-pass and fast-take, that position is really going to play in the Ana on the front, aren't it?
Okay, his pylons already gone down, getting under a lot of pressure.
Again, the Auri sometimes feels a little bit greedy in these compositions and certainly a weak point of the banar.
Soft fit to press upon, half a year in scree, trying to get away, but Knife is able to run him down and...
folks, that should be the round wrapped up here.
He has to be able to put the back off the edge, probably doesn't care, he respects it enough to back away and then spring it back into action when required.
Feels a little anti-climactic considering how competitive she can look early here.
I just don't think the Awari has enough mobility and survivability to play against, you know, Azeta playing this way, right?
I mean, they nanoed the D.Va and, you know, Bernard just kind of chases down Finn and just...
I mean, there's nothing Finn can even do, right?
I don't know, dude.
What healing number, Doc, would you honestly, because they didn't win you a whole pile on this coach, so they'd be in question, or you don't have the chance to, like, settle into a full round worth of point control?
I don't think so.
Oh, that's cute.
Okay, a lot of tactics don't never there very good.
I would say this stage itself, DK has been like almost exclusively like,
theory Lucio. Like, so I think it might also be that DK. This is like the banishest brutal.
As I know, now you'll go, uh, shoot a brick. I play a little bit nicer into the D.va.
It doesn't really play great and it can't bash enough, although...
Oh, there's so much of map that Niak can access now as well with their jet packs now.
They fly out over the open.
A lot of escape routes.
True here looking dangerous.
I wonder what he's cooking up.
He's actually all rotating, getting pressed on here.
Let's sleep.
Can he get back to the rest of his team though?
No, no, big bio.
Well, Hamter and Finn were very loaded.
That was close.
Alex got caught.
He was out in the open, didn't rotate with the rest of his team,
cooking up, and GK just aren't quite able to stay.
Yeah, there's one collective.
Well, I mean, you don't want to be all kind of bunched up in that lower area when a bash on the other side,
you just throw the nade down there.
Just kind of run through them there.
Nights, obviously, put down a ton of damage from Bernard with a follow-up.
See, there's a little concerning for GK.
Yeah, this now looks great for GK so far.
Okay, so, take this high ground, throw up, right up, I have to stop down them.
Shoot, that's such an easy kill for pilot.
Guys, I'm in there, but I'm as well with that range increase burst picked up.
It's an easy, it's an easy kill on Alphie.
I mean, dude, the tune also, like, having Violet shoot and proper, like, uh, we gotta start getting a salary cap in here.
I mean, I blame Falcons! I blame Falcons!
Anyone leech this onto the world, guys?
And then you cook a bunch of fat elves as a result.
So, we'll see now if uh, DK can get anything going here, his LAPT is gonna go into the
patch and right-turn it just maps to the damage output.
Ah, there's LAPT in the second position to have impact here, look at this pile again,
another DAS-ing for LAPT, they're reducing his healing, pausing Ziadza.
He's a lot of defense-making resource to keep standing.
Ziadza's result goes quite low in the frontline now, and he can't no closer to taking point
than the way it earlier on.
Here's the chat napping.
I can't let this go out of the sun.
That is brutal rally here for Finn.
He's absolutely necessary, but he needs to take a damage from memory direction.
This is an absolute stomp.
I mean, Lou's going to have some words for us after this,
because we've been promising her bangers very close games for these first two.
They're coming, Lou, though.
Then all of a sudden, there's promise of great things to come today.
But, now for you, do be lurkers.
I can't use any ultimates throughout this entire round. I mean it's just been dominant.
Nanna boost here is for B'nah, Shorley, or Nife.
No one gets close to this fast here. She's playing a disgusting off angle.
These biodegradates are perfectly trajectory.
Oh, it's a South Rikus 3 as well. Oh, it's over! It's just over!
Proper in for 3.
And GK do not have a retort. They are gutted here in this first map.
And yeah, the GK fan certainly hurts GK, but their coordination has not been up to par.
Not against a team like Zendavision who are threatening to take the world by storm.
It's a map one I don't think we'll talk about years from now.
So that was just a holy fucking pipe.
The absolute blowout is Zeta just going to run through EK's.
I mean Zeta doesn't really want to play the Q-Ri and they're taking some setups like that anyway
Anyway, and then it's like essential for what Yike is trying to do, right?
So, uh, a very significant pan early on, uh, in no way Yike could respond.
To me, the most glaring difference between these two teams
is that him picks Iari in their first round.
Her relative immobility is punished.
Over and over again.
She was playing Ana here on deck of Ace, and really,
getting to play quite audaciously, even finding some off angles in dangerous spots.
He fouled himself fast, got a slay, got a Di-Fio,
it turned into a fight win for the rest of his team.
If you can't punish a Di-Fio or shoot,
well, you're in trouble.
They're both almost like, you know,
damage dealers in the role,
like in terms of like support, right?
They just kind of like are so offensive
and aggressively focused.
That, even when they collapse on the shoot, right?
It's not like he dies instantly.
There's like a bio at his feet.
He's able to like, you know,
he's got so many plays for like,
it's like two players collapsing on him.
He sleeps one, BIOS, like all of a sudden.
And it's like, okay, now like great, they got rid of Shu.
But these players are basically dead, right?
Bernard just like goes through on the D.Va,
just kind of flies through the D.Va,
just cleans them up, right?
So it's an easy trade there for Zedah Division to make
is they also wasted no time.
Hey, let's get back in the game.
Let's get out of here.
No subs, no profit.
We're good.
Kaysha's just joining us.
The narrative so far is to that.
GK are not delivering on their promise
to be a dark horse
transforming into a legitimate international threat
this Zedir Division team have shown
no weaknesses
no fallibilities
no slip ups
and zero fear
if you were to like
pick a favorite going into the playoffs right now it would
be tough not to pick them
and they mean
we're
in the danger zone for heading into another
Is it a South Korean roster that just wipes this whole thing away?
Twisted minds were promising in that previous 2-0.
Are we pinning hopes on them again for an EMEA to be the sole challenge?
Hey, Bayo Sadiq, one more time. Give us one more great one.
Yeah, I mean, hey, we might be looking at that, right?
I mean, super high on BP coming to this event.
I was pretty high on Yi-K, though with their performances in EMEA.
Obviously, you know, unreal opponents on the opposite side, but still.
You'd like to see it a little bit closer.
I know I'm getting ahead of myself here, but this would be the defining win of GK's project.
This one. Oh, yeah. For sure.
I mean, with how good Zeta is coming on in to this event,
you know, the historic play of all these players on the roster, right?
You know, they have had some of the highest moments that we've had and, you know,
professional overwatch these players have been a part of.
We're gonna head over to get some thoughts here from one of the biggest editor-in-chief fans in the room. It's Lou with Tio
Thank you guys
I am very glad to be joined by a legendary overwatch ex-player now streamer for Zita division
Tio-san party at Yokosawa. It's a pleasure to have you here, of course and apart from being a very funny streamer
You are also very talented because you're a bilingual king
English-Japanese, so I suggest you do my job today you take care of the of the translation
Please tell us about your current job.
The Japanese community in Obovachi is very big, but what do you think is so exciting?
Well...
Please speak in Japanese.
Well, I think the big teams like Zeta Division and Crazy Raccoon Barrel,
are fighting in Japan region and Korea region.
I think they are excited because they have a team to support.
Thank you very much.
In English?
In English.
in Japanese and answer me in English.
So yeah, I like competing but streaming is also very enjoyable.
It's two very different things, so I get fulfillment from both things.
You seem to be enjoying yourself here at the co-streaming booth as well.
Thank you so much for joining me.
Thank you so much for the interview and we're getting back to the game guys.
I mean, obviously getting rid of the jetpack at Bastion, but then the Sim ban is brutal.
It doesn't get any easier than that for GK.
It's that individual, finding all the correct pressure points here.
A jetpack ban here from GK is reasonable, but Violet's played every support at every level,
all at the highest level, I would say.
And yeah, Lucio Cury is very reasonable.
Violet's Lucio is illustrious, I think there's plenty of stories that come with it,
with it, but the end of the day.
Legendary moments on both sides.
Just look out for the sound barriers, that's all I'm going to say.
I mean this is some Zeta division though, right?
You can play Tracer, Sheehan, you can play Vendetta comps, you can play a lot of different
stuff here for Zeta.
It'll be a near matchup actually between these teams.
Amogicomps, Reaper on both sides, I straight out here up.
There's so many options that exist on this map.
So now we can really assess these teams on a player-to-player basis.
It is Alphie vs. Proper.
Someone who's looked up to Proper for quite some time.
Once again, it's a chance to measure himself against the gods.
The Art.
Which will knock down him, but the Art much lower.
Can be nervous who's you draw out.
Tanya first runs from both sides, and Fyler got a little too close to the sum there,
but he's having to stay alive.
Big, big chance for the Art.
They're gonna have to use that switch, get the telekinesis in an awkward spot.
Xayna, great job trying to punish some of these positioning errors,
but Laptur and Alphie deliver in the DPS departments.
Yeah, another knock down there for Ziad as well as...
The Xayna division, they made the right read, right?
Telekines and Bin both dangerously low.
They decide to charge on in, but it's the damage healers there from DK who come alive.
Specifically, Labda, already at an overclock here.
That's actually disgusting, that is nasty damage.
This might be his chance to take over the game.
I think with proper on Reaper, there's a little bit less room for that raw skill expression
and knife to someone like the public, just like he can handle in the head-to-head matchup.
But now it's been far more proactive with the shoulder charges forward,
but it might expose his backline to a little bit more scrutiny than they would otherwise like.
That's a nice little purchase.
Oh my, that is goofy!
That's a little keyhole shot there for Lander and proper.
Doesn't know what hit him either.
Ha ha ha ha ha.
What is that here?
Yeah, dude, he's nutty.
I mean that is the six shots there from Lander.
Let's see that one more time.
Stop right there.
Aww, he's illegal.
Jumping headshot there.
Barely sees him.
This is gonna be a cage right here from Ziyan.
The downfire comes down there from Kellix.
It's good. It keeps everybody up.
That's going to be a really nice charge there from Ziad as well.
Notched down Shu, even though the Katsune Rush comes down.
Get another fight in for GK and they take first kill.
All they wanted there was a Kage fight just to make it impossible for them to contest.
So they do spend that.
Shu wanted a Katsune Rush to try and keep them alive and proper.
Actually, he uses his ult mostly on the Kage just to try and break them out.
Good look for GK.
Can't ask for much more than that.
Last hit gets them.
Place through that first flash point or at least a huge head start on.
Now, DK, I mean you'll be able to get to this point first.
You'll have a cage with your overclock, so a pretty sizable advantage here.
Doesn't need an overclock though, front-lap, and you just might fail that range.
Tracksline, yeah, now I'm trying to shoot through it.
Death Glossom, attempt there from Alphie, gets the cage with nothing more than that.
Lapters, railguns though have been striking through so far.
When Funa out of the mix, DK Esports can fall back.
Now take this point
Be a little careful of the review here from the turning it forward knife finds a rail on laughter
GK did get a first cap, but they don't have the place to maintain it
And we'll see I mean you if you do get as soon as you want to see out in the cardiac overdrive
keep him alive, but
Looks like everybody goes fall in the end. So
Zeta bounce back
Let's stagger out z odd here. I'll leave the thing to yeah trying to charge out
Not going to make it so
Let's see how aggressive they're going to play here, right?
Awesome, double support ult, right?
Maybe push down, EK, force them out of some of these ults early.
Order 2 already, and Kani.
That stagger earns them like 15% I feel.
Here comes the ad, Bernhardt.
I split charge past his ships in the night.
He had the one knocked down.
He's got interrupted.
He actually goes to the cage there to stop there from Bernhardt.
They interrupted. That's huge.
I mean, he got worse in the neutral map.
There's no two ways about it.
That from Banara was decisive.
The rest of the fight, he's going to follow.
There's really not much for to be done here for GK.
It's just, it's just pleasantries.
It's complicated to do.
And they end up using the Katsune rush there.
They're trying to like put that down on top of the cage,
right, and get like a big fight there.
That was diabolical.
Yeah.
They're going to face down both support ultimates
into the next fight.
Devastating for GK.
They're going to be labbed at a go crazy here.
What's that? What? Interaction?
Pretty much. The end of the Rappelbracket run.
So, yeah, it's, uh...
Very well could be. We'll see now.
It's gonna get you head-to-head, Matt.
Yeah, I mean, if Labber, though, can connect with anything with these rails, I mean...
Get this up to Churly. Right angle right here in plate for Nars.
Down, Barry. The world was holding off from the previous fight.
Chelix has one of these arms. After he's got himself in the corner now, looking to try and get into the backline.
Great Borto has to be used fast, prematurely, and Shu finds his Katsune Rush held over from previous.
Like that, Labrador, the only soldier on the map now with a target on his back as he's running into the ground by Ziad.
Yes, Ziad is doing a nice job using these charges.
They're just putting so much pressure on the opponents as...
Alfi keeping his support alive, Ziad doubles back as...
GK, that is a huge fight win, right? You ended up getting nothing with the OC, but both teams, investing heavy.
GK with a nice sound there, there from Kellax, right? Comes out on top of a little bit of a later beat, now with the advantage of their own here with their rush again.
I'll be trying for this now.
Saw this earlier, tucked into a corner and then just gets easy access to the backline, but he's got a very old lead there by night.
Those low-grade walks away. You're feeling now a cage fight in place.
You're only an opportunity for the dead boss, but it might not be required.
With Bernard having already fallen, GKR, 55% of things are finally looking to...
Oh! Oh, gotta risk my friend.
Okay!
Well, I guess another one here.
Now, this time to a compromise, he's got the beat.
Gonna be submitted to the fight now for Zed and a vision that realizes it might be an opening,
an opportunity to exploit, but Nif cannot fight a Malaga one-to-one.
But uh, however, while he's built for it, here's the guy who's fighting the captors off to two another bucket of ships under the Kirikou of the Finn.
ZF will soon after.
He will be able to get this very close, if not to 99, which you do here.
Laptop is fight-violated, so hold on.
Kalex is gonna build up towards a B here, you may decide to use it.
How quickly can he try and commit a make-to-wake attack?
They're gonna wait for ZF to come back.
Once ZF comes back, they probably invest.
That's what I mentioned.
Fighters over extensions.
It won't happen all the time, not as much as they used to, but they still just happen.
If you continue to rush tag, you're going to be thrown into the mix.
You realize that this is a tense moment, they've got to make sure their defenses are nice and tight.
That is proper and I'm already out of the game.
Seattle's the trade, you're probably going to take it for GK now.
Slap the nose, needs to finish the job, but now it's still a pretty powerful bastion to build yourself around.
Trying to charge in, but Kalex slipped away.
And now at all the time on this flashpoint, GK has the numbers, has the momentum.
They're going to have themselves bit down.
That's a niche, I mean, it's gonna be GK getting another Flash point here, an opportunity to take map number two.
And you know what, I mean, you just use the cap ban here, you have a fashion ban for GK, I mean, you can like, pretty much play the rest of the series in this type of match if you want, and...
...definitely maybe start to swing a little bit towards GK as they also get control of this really important choke leading into this Flash point.
The matchup shifts the focus off proper and over to Luggett versus Knight.
It's a matchup that GK can win.
That's not too shabber though to start the fight.
The impromptu Death Blossom is the opener.
As soon as the inhibition are at least able to get the start, they need to stay alive in New Drop City.
Yeah, they invest the Death Blossom plus Overclock there, right?
So, you don't have the Overclock to kind of match or like even have it for the sound barrier to kind of rip off some of that overheld.
We don't have the Blossom to break this cage though.
Cage Rush.
Death Blossom.
4 DK.
Yeah, for the time. It's gonna be a cage in the back flight.
Yes, the adhoc is gonna get some attention on his own, but it's not very now.
Comes into play.
Death Blossom for Ralfi.
Cuts short by Shu.
Finds that Kunai connection, but Zed's cage ends up being sneaky good here.
Copper and Banana both fall there to the mouth after the fact.
But Zed and Banana Dragon's fight out long enough to get a pretty decent lead.
I'm sure though, there's some growing concern about GK in this map and the rest of the series if we get to a third.
Yes, Pernar wants to go aggressive there. They started out with their cage and forces the cage out of GK.
Soundbar is there from Violet, but the deathbloss has ended up proving to be huge there.
Now you're going to have the opportunity for Labda, like up on a high ground, or getting some advantage here with a no-seed, but no ultimate there to respond.
It's nice. Drop blow already. Has to give up the premium positioning and Labda now can find a different target.
Get your new rush committed for Shuva, the sound barrier for Kellex, come to like your life, it's life, you can't have that happen!
That the most wrapped around, big fight from MTF, charges through, finds a 2 for 1 special on top tier DPS players, that's a steal.
I don't even know, proper TPs, and maybe the one second he's available gets a kill and then instantly raid walks.
It's like assassinating a backliner there.
And they're still not even going to win the fight early on.
Samin, the overclock's there.
From Latteb and huge.
An answer for Ninth Gear.
Caught to be out of scary.
Terrifying.
Pushing up on the cardiac overdrive now.
Fiddles are trying to get aggressive.
Nogged over the lower clock.
Infinity punished for his hubris.
Sia next to full.
This lets Sia get back onto the point just in time
to really fight for this map.
And that's kind of what they do, right?
Sia.
Chargers on him.
They get that cardiac overdrive, TP, Suzu here from Finn, allows Ziad to keep fighting, get another charge going, but that time TPing into the OC of Nikes, he's going to land those shots on the Geary.
Another key to available here, yeah, for Ziad, films us up rather quickly.
Cometing clear of the dead blossom, but he needs to stay alive.
He's the cage, comes out straight away by, let's go, we're gonna get caught up.
Comet dies in the cage with the dead blossom, that's what you're looking for.
Ziad trying to disrupt, charges on him, knife is down, Alphini's getting value on that reaper here.
Oh, GK! Just as it looked like, they might be bowing out.
They're looking to threaten to end the map.
That the charges back on him, and shoot is quite low.
It's an easy enough pick up here for GK, and at 99 apiece,
it's desperation from Zed and Division as good as they are, and they are that good.
They are not better, apparently, in the Malga mirror.
Knife is down and Violet can only get a toe in.
It's Latta that claims it, and we are going all the way.
And the bread and butter for GK there.
It's a lot of pressure on Zeta Division going into this third and final map.
The CR on the market just nasty work all throughout.
And then Labda, I just dominant in the hitscan battle, right?
We were, you know, Nape had a few moments with the OC's here towards him.
We got excited about for Finn, but this is kind of the highlights you were seeing consistently throughout the map.
Both of these teams on day one looked perfect.
In fairness, they had a lopsided matchup, but now we know no one walks out of this series unscathed.
No one walks out with a couple of bruises and some harsh lessons.
It always really matters.
It's flying away forward in this third map, and both teams have axes on which they're going to be looking to operate.
For GK, trying to put Laptur in position to take over the game.
Yeah, Malcolm comps and keep shutting down the jetpack cat bastion looks but I think for Zeta
It's about putting proper back in the driver's seat back in a position. I mean take the game over if you're Zeta
You don't want to see the Moga right but
Banning sojourn here would allow the cat bastion to make it through right?
So that would be like in theory be like the go like if you wanted to kind of play what we saw in map number one
You end up banning
Now you could, on the side of GK, potentially get rid of the Ong.
That makes it a little bit more interesting.
It might be that Zedavision wants to select a map before we even consider Bans,
that invalidates some of the strengths of GK as well.
There's a lot to be said for winning the control map in this series,
because when you come to the decider, you kind of get the run of the place.
map selection, here of Ampirety.
So there's no reason why Zeta Division shouldn't be able to
gain the system
to benefit them as much as possible.
And now, it's just an uncomfortable period of waiting for GK.
Yeah, they're generally capable of it, now they need to react.
So Zeta Division's attempt to stack the deck in their favor in this decider.
It's not only are you worried about the Sojourn of Labyrinth,
you're also worried about the possibility of Maga
entering some of these maps.
I'm very curious what Xenon decides to do here.
Again, I want to throw back to, I think it was Benz.
No, Lab, excuse me.
Where Benz is able to counter charge, so he had to cancel the ultimate.
It's like a gut punch in the fight.
I was convinced that we'd be looking at a two-row there and then.
And I also thought, frankly, that Xenon looked better in the mountain comp,
but my mind has been changed because Lab took God to stretch his legs a little bit more.
When you play Rika, it feels a little bit restrictive. It feels like there's a hard ceiling on your impact in the game.
If you're not as worried about proper playing Rifa as opposed to like Shian or Tracer, one of these like insanely high ceiling...
Playing Rika feels like you're playing to not lose, instead of playing to win.
You're playing to try and nullify the Malaga.
Well, you're playing around the Malaga.
Yeah, right? You're not really playing through proper.
But you're containing yourself or whoever you put on that Rifa as well.
Yeah.
You have a very defined role. You're basically playing man coverage on a Malaga.
Yeah, you're playing through your MAGA and then obviously your hitscan at that point, right?
And Knife against Laptor is a tricky matchup.
Yeah, it might be a very, well, like a losing proposition on the Soldier, yeah, specifically.
We'll see...
You know, a good map here for Zedid Division is, it's like...
I'm gonna send that as a, you know, stand over to the bathroom here.
So, I'll be, you know, I'm gonna go too. Okay, why not?
So that was like this crazy. That coach does not let us do this. Yeah, we are not allowed to go to a party
Really? We're allowed to do that during this year
Yeah, I mean if you're Zeta you want to go back and play like a diva cat-bashing on I know maybe some you know high ground control, right?
It's kind of what you're trying to get there. Let's
It's Shimbalei Monastery, I was going to fear, right?
They're not a mug of playground, so to speak.
No, the sideline's a little too long.
It's kind of hard to work around your health far.
It's about to go.
Malgrin is pretty complicated because your swing timing
is really important.
If you just swing into the open and take a face full of damage,
if you're playing Lucio, here we go.
You don't have the raw burst healing,
the throughput to actually fix that issue, that error.
If you walk into a bunch of cooldowns.
Do you want to play corners if you can? Have a lot of things that break up line of sight, incrementally approach your opponent.
It hasn't been gained charge distance.
Yeah, Cary Lucio is available here, you know, for DK.
So, I've been informed that these are emergency bathroom breaks.
Now, as adults, I struggle to imagine too many scenarios in which that is required.
He kept a punctured bladder.
That's fine.
I guess that's fine.
I love it.
But this is also a pretty valuable opportunity.
Look how spirited this discussion is between Kellex and Gladda.
Kellex, who, yeah, up until midway through this year, we thought he was kind of done.
I think Kellex was coaching.
You know, just happy to take a big step back.
But his performance on that up, Katzia roster, the seniority that he brought to it.
I mean, he's one of the longest standing players still in the game now.
We're talking someone who was 3-0 WL era, a pro player even back then.
He had multiple teams, played him like, I think he was part of the legion, he was part of the team too, quite some time.
Every level, he's managed to find success, find ways to get the most out of these teams.
Glad the Kellex and Ziad together have had a lot of success, right?
You know, so I think these conversations that they're having probably, you know,
ones that they've had before pretty kind of healthy determining like what we see coming into the next map.
map.
This guy looks like, he looks like, I'm sorry, he's like, can we get the others back on the
stage so that we can go sip these solo shots of me?
He, he, I watched, he was quite animated after his players had led the stage and he was like,
hey, you find my teammates.
Yeah.
Find them and then find them.
Yeah.
Uh, to be frank with you folks, it was a bit of a surprise to all of us that GK opted to
leave the stage and had a passion for you.
But you know what?
That's not denying nature.
Lucio Mythic.
I'm still using my old stars Lucio skin.
That one is phenomenal.
I heard the fastest way to get a Lucio Mythic skin is to go to X and look up PustaOW and
just leave him constantly in on it.
The man responsible, part of the team responsible for some fantastic new additions to the game.
You should do heroes of your sort started here, and I heard he was particularly inspired in his work on this
Yeah, I mean, I know great work from our
I mean a lot of Ali. I love the rest of you guys. Oh, I lost
But I wouldn't say I've been out of chat with him as but I love that
He's actually put a lot of his own voice lines in a Mizuki
So Mizuki when he's getting like in game like he has all the everyone has voice lines with their like taking damage
Yeah, he's always complaining. He's not everyone should be and he's like he's giving extreme boys
far the energy and I'm convinced that Scott has taken a bunch of his voice lines from
playing Commander against me and he's put them into the game.
That's targeting me, this isn't fair, why are they hitting me?
I don't know if he's thinking a little too deep.
I'm trying to see the map on one of these monitors.
Look, look, look, what are you doing, bro?
Go on.
He's like, bro, we're playing so well, why are we getting up walking around?
It is interesting, you are, I say, look, guys, you got a P, you got a P.
I'm not I'm not judging the guy, but Jalex is like guys. We have momentum. Also, yeah, I thought Blana
Apparently is known to keep you more alert. So just just pizza
And I'm having you like the coaching. Yeah, that's a reason
It's not because I
You'd be great
I'll probably have some very epic speeches, but you know, much like we found with D-Type, they don't necessarily translate to victories.
Yeah, so...
State of vision on the ropes here.
Be a bit of a surprise, I think, to most people.
Sorry, a bit!
I mean, well, I mean, look, I think they, like Jake, like there's an argument to be made for D-K, like playing these types of comps are very good.
Very good. Route 66. Let's see what Zeta decided to do.
Did they ban Sojourn here to protect Bastion?
No, they banned Lucio, and then Shion is the ban on the other side.
So they target Kallix.
Kallix brought Bastion down.
And then they target, you know, proper.
Yeah, we're getting rid of the Shion.
So, Kat Bastion is available.
I think the lack of Lucio is pretty significant.
Yeah.
still you know it's like something I mean Rick like you know but like Lucio
also we saw if we try and play it in the area we saw I'm so is it really for it
in route 66 I'm surprised they banned Sheehan rather than banning fashion just
cuz like they banned Lucio right they're gonna play me maybe they play on it on
with the cat like we kind of know that's the route that they want to go pretty nice
because they don't like you know you could end up trying to take away the
Bastion unless that's like kind of a geek he wants to do here as well they
look like they're gonna be okay so this is like a champion's class throwback
Sigma Zookie
okay so obviously it's a pretty potent composition I'm curious to see like where
the cementure is up against what Zator are going to play obviously
Binding chain important depending on the choice of tank but now it's playing
Sigma Darts. It's not as exciting. There's probably opportunities for
Kalei to make it work. It looks like GK is just trying to play something. Why are we
doing this in the current years, Tim? We'll see you Bar. We'll see you for an
RSD's on the second. Okay, very well. I end up kind of going over and laying out a rebar of these.
Okay, away we go. Proper thinking about the Pharah. Honestly, there's plenty of
case to be made for it here.
What? Who you're playing?
This is a gigapod cop, Mike!
Yes, this is definitely different than I think.
There ain't no way you just cocked off the map.
There's no way!
I've not even seen some championship!
That is not the player you want to lose early.
Oh god!
If I lose to Violet Wuyang!
The poke is going to be nasty, dear.
With a Freya Wuyang.
And the
bar in the mix. You'll have Ziago over and play D.Va straight away, and then Lapid go over to the
Soju. Okay, we are... Violet probably will be titled last game itself, though. Cropper makes his
return, so Navena delivery system for that, and Cropper gets a hero that really lets him express
that level hop skill. They didn't even have the components here. There could be a very important
victory under great duress. Lapid needs to set up on these sightlines. A little bit tough, though,
against the Sigma, but now he's throwing everything, including the kitchen seatcap,
from that low ground and he adds in a bit of an odd spot very much in the back
point here, it's finally now realizing that.
Two gets to slam the staff down though and Shugal can do his wounds.
A lot of progress here though for Vader to be in.
Knights close to Boltz, take it on the land up on the high ground, nobody there to be able to keep him alive.
Nasty stuff here from Knight.
Now on the pray eyes, this is gonna be the first checkpoint.
Lightning fast. Lightning fast!
Great sequence there from 9 who just hasn't really been in the conversation here someone who's like attracting attention
Yeah, he's matchup. He had the less favorable end of the sojourn mirror against lap 2 previously
Now really is giving a great account of himself earlier because of all those eliminations. He built that off with solar bus
TP up to the high ground here through TK and get some map control back. What is your shoes on an off angle yet?
He's done. Okay. This is something we didn't see from the TK in the first match
See good car pressure here from Ziad as well.
He's two of an attrition, but he's all good.
Disfarming. Support ultimates right now, I kill it.
Okay, kind of lost him a prop, aren't ya?
Gotta go after the soldier, but he won't be catching him any time soon.
Kill it, he's falling though, so knocked to the ground in the end.
Straight trade of kills though, his laptop was looking for knife and found him.
Father trying to find a way out here.
Tough to close the gap, the poke come against me, but can't be mitigated in this effect.
It's effective. This is what our speculates with an accretion. The Zed heads upstairs
But Zed gets the car moving itch in some of this high ground without really investing anything
I mean the title blasts the only thing used there
Continuity rush a massive investment there. Oh, right ball of shot prediction there on Alphage
Looks like that we got Susie from Fiddler. That's something else to mitigate the impact of that ultimate
Gravitic flux. Lapda needs to go over. No one's there to get past the wall
There's just no house ladies caught this door outside of proper. He doesn't have enough damage there
Okay, all the way came down but Lapid wasn't in position to benefit from whatsoever and Violet's poke dusts him in in the end
Jim trying to bask in the rage but now has to quickly get on out there as proper is hunting
And he won't be satisfied until he has his fill
We're gonna do mech's yard here. It's gonna be a self-destruct
We'll get back in mech. Mech not gonna last very long though as he heads to the high ground now
Now he'll get de-mech'd. The follow-up from Violet as he comes back with a little bit of extra speed here on the cat.
This is a bit fast here. Four Zed division. Kellex now back over to the Mizuki.
It's hard, right? Because Kellex can obviously play Brig here, but you wouldn't play Brig until like the SIG on the other side, right?
It's like Bernardo would be playing Eva, for instance. Maybe that's an opportunity. I like the Remontra swap, though.
I think they are here every late to me to be closing the gap early and often now
So she gets his sigma if you're all took you care
It's a very difficult map to finish here
Just trying to rely on the fact that you have a lot of buffer here
So what don't you think I think rushing down is he had those buttons and a vision quite happen like you can't come to them
On this occasion, and I this is a little bit too accurate now
The soldier play really starting to turn up and with over three minutes on the clock and then vision bearing down at a rate of
Not a GK. No, they can't get comfy in terms of what they want to play.
Now we're off the Mizuki and the Ram. Now we're back over to the D.Va.
This is what a best of Trey will do you. You just don't really have enough time
to figure out some of these more complex puzzles.
You're just walking with an answer prepared.
Great angle there for Ziad though. Found an opportunity to go after a knife.
Gakub is out of finish mid-drop now. Though still more to do.
Oh, so James tried it out. Ziad gonna fall back towards the rest of this D.Va.
GK playing on the cart, continue to match in play with Banar.
Hanno on the C gear as well.
Survival ability, both then and the other one that looks.
Banar gets himself a bit of vertical mobility with that second perk choice.
Obscene.
Uniquely powerful on this part of this very map.
Latter, nice little rail, proper, just for a couple of times, it eventually comes back from his kill.
Hulse?
NOOOOOO!
Spurke it up, kill it!
Yeah, leaps and bows, that'll stay alive though, and deal with the effedding tracer, but this cart is still moving.
Ziad is changing the ground, the Mizuki a problem for the Zeeva.
Even on a good day, life might not have high ground control, but he has charged rails and a lot of free damage to send right at Ziad's face.
Who contests here?
Life to try and comes out on the tracer now and I feel like the high ground might finally be a safe spot and somehow, for instance, either they're under the corner called the Elimination.
Fight it a little bit low, but still have it a fight for it.
Kill X-Fighter, hunt him down, and somehow, Fighters avoided him for the most part.
Hit the War Retriched air and Zed Division are guaranteed to win.
And 2 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock has got to give you some confidence.
I mean that's a ugly defense there from DK. They couldn't figure anything out, right? I mean we're
We're swapping off tanks supports every single time the Lucio ban obviously
Giving them a lot of trouble. Oh, look at this. That's so that's the start of they actually get to sleep there from shoo that connects on to
And then you have the cops coming on in
Violet pumping out a lot of damage now and on the weekend as well
He's doing allowing the tracer in play here, you know, because Juno is obviously a much
easier target than Alucio, per se, I think you're not playing the break, so like Juno's
a very easy target for proper, especially playing like whether obviously Shionn gone,
but for tracer, I mean that is no real protection there, as we take a look at the stats, pretty
ugly at 4GK.
I mean, it's Latin small line, but I'm immediately drawn to 4 and 7 getting punished pretty frequently.
Despite the fact that B'narr and kind of playing a ball of a poke comp, it proper is 19 and 2, bro.
19 and 2.
She also put out, uh, like, 4.3k damage.
And there's a reason why not everybody is playing Ana.
Because no one can play it quite like she.
No one can make a case for it.
I mean, nobody can really do what Zeta can do in terms of the backline, right?
I mean, have two players that are, you know, that good in the support role, and, you know, not just good, but they both are play- they both play like a very similarly unique style of play-up support, right?
But they're both, like, very aggressive, you know, you wouldn't kind of consider them like they're, like, you know, very, like, heel-bottom, like, passive supports. They are in the fight.
They're both unicorns in their own right.
Yeah.
Okay, but I hear struggling to get his team out of the gates.
See how it is being met that is something presented efficient to work with them if anything kicked off by proper
We were doing pretty well
Like my lunch is gonna like you know, we're not is yet the pilot is still just kind of like
Loading above just gonna be a nuisance. Yeah
They're almost ready to combine the dive of violet and proper as opposed like a tank
Obviously folks you can't are on the attack side here and get those
just a moment. But you do need a certain amount of just true insanity to succeed in the ways
of biotech succeeding. You just want to fit in any mold, you just want to fit in any unlabeled
description of a support player. He's always done things his own ways. He had really only
DMG it. This is brutal stuff and another biotech when I simply didn't sell to injury. And for
a lot of the, you know, love sometimes we see from, you know, players who get in your
I love even chew at moments for every one of those there's like
10 or 15 heroic place
It's it is a
Gamble that worked out to most of the time for these players and the times that it don't you've got other stabilizing
Presences on your team like shoot like we're not
Okay, GK still trying to get going
Already hasn't moved it about too far and they're gonna get spawned careful
But not careful.
Labda has been taken to task by none other than the feline fury of Violet.
When I ran out of mech and dealt with those, he had dusty to try and lube it Violet,
getting around the map there, but a nice little pulse bump would extreme you'll press it down.
Oh no, the catnap!
The stun!
The pyro!
Oh, the tango off the map there for Finn.
Violet makes it uncomfortable.
Look at the movement dude, like just being able to kinda kite it.
It was like, so we saw it on Busan when he actually tried to kill Zi-Adi, kinda messed it up.
where, uh, she went down into the, you know, kind of, the, anything that's like the Skybox, right?
Like, down, like, where you kind of, you see your things being death on the side of the map?
Oh, wow.
She didn't drag him down far enough, and he's doing the movement here.
It's crazy.
Listen, I don't want to hear it.
You all have been asking for Jetpack Cat for literally years.
Literally years.
10.4, you wish, four bucks.
9.4.
Alright, brother fall over the top.
Fatton very early killed us off the, uh, white click there,
and he was able to be kept toped up.
This is Dominic. This is the Zed division we were expecting to see.
GK's Dark Horse, Moniker only gets them so far against this outfit.
I can't imagine dealing with proper on the tracer and then Violet.
Faced people like another tracer. Yeah, just take that out for you here.
We're gonna get a potentially what, a nano on the proper here.
Just launches them into the spot.
Use!
Alright, recalls over quiet for proper.
The recall brings them back to that high ground though around the corner.
That's like pretty crazy.
The add-ins from 4 now, but now it's been hard to shoot.
Okay, overclocked by Volato. He's really gonna make a difference here.
He's gonna break this game wide open.
Hey, guys, entry comes down to make it a little bit safer for Volato to place here,
but now he's taking the brunt of things by himself.
Destructed, a remake opportunity could be huge. Grenade,
Catnap, Kellex dealt with Bipro, but this is about as good as it gets.
It's dominance, folks. Pure and simple as Zayna Division had decided to win the game.
And you see a lot of the time when we're on with Vailio,
Like the movement right using like the lifeline so you can kind of like three PC around corners
This is being an absolute blowout in our third and a final map geek a awesome on new junk city
But the inhibition just turned up here
on route 66 bulls bottom here from proper
The most certainly seal the deal
Friar interesting choice by the good idea on left is a little bit dangerous for the time being his pulse spot being cradle
B hatch Steven.
Banara looks a bit coastier to try and maybe get a bit of pressure on Finn, but a little bit lower now, and a bit off the spot.
He's a double backcrop, has gone down to Kellex though.
He's not even a chain, even involved in that elimination, but they're fired yet again.
He found London, no more Freyja in the mix and shoot this time.
Get the VIP treatment, flown up for a moment, into the ideal sideline to keep his team alive.
And there's a nano here for Banara, making it very, very sticky to clear this D.Va from the point.
Died goes in, Benard joined by five at the delivery time.
Enough for probably get back into the fight with the Pals for Mews sitting on earlier.
Fighting over the mega health practice, Benard and Kalex is eventually fallen.
Self destruct and up top the edge, not to be!
Fast Korea, now EMEA!
Zayna Division's claim to the championship goes louder with every vanquish depotant.
That bit dicey in map number two, but map three and map number one as dominant as we've
ever seen them Zeta Division.
They take care of business here towards the end as these Anna cat comps are just so filthy
from Zeta Division.
easy Violet, Hannah Reva with his former teammate Finn there as nobody else can kind of match
that style and it is so difficult to deal with.
It's one thing to get a map of this team in a best of three.
It's another to solve them.
In a best of five, God forbid, a best of seven.
The only time this team looked a little weak it was when proper had to become a role player
for a map and the cat and bastion combo was not available.
And you're so worried about proper right on tracer, and then you have this jetpack hat above you
You have for NAR coming in on the diva. I mean just so many threats
That's what allows you to just kind of play from range a lot of times extremely safe right not under pressure
We're getting a squirt around the map by violet
It's gonna be a very difficult problem to solve there is a division and into the stage now and here from blue
We're quite possibly the greatest player we've ever touched the game
Thank you very much guys. Congratulations proper NZT division Chukaio for this victory. Welcome to playoffs here in Paris
I wanted to know proper you are considered by many as the best DPS player in the world
You've been at the top level for such a long time
You were playing the finals of the watch league in 2022 yet
You are still at the top even though there is many young blood young players that want to come and take down your crown
So how do you manage to still be at the top level after all those years?
First of all, congratulations to the pro players.
The first question is,
you have been in the top 3 for a long time,
and you are the best DPS player in the world.
You are the pro player in the top 3.
You have been in the Overwatch League for 22 years,
and you have been in the top 3 for a long time.
Despite the new players coming up,
what is the secret to maintaining the top 3?
I'm a very competitive person, so I hate losing.
Yeah, I mean that actually was what drives me as a competitor, but that being said, I mean I do feel that many young players coming here actually have better mechanics than me, but I try to cover it with more experience and more wit, so I think that makes a difference for me.
Yeah, that's what your added value is, and I think that's a very interesting answer.
So first question, you're one of the best players in the world.
It's been years that you're at the top. How do you get out of it?
All the young players come to try to take your crown.
I'm a very competitive player, it's stupid, but that's what's driving me.
I know there are a lot of young players who are better mechanically than me,
but I try to compensate with my experience and my mastery of the players.
But I don't know if you want to answer this question, but I really want to ask it to you.
Last year, you won EWC with Falcons. You changed teams still. You are in playoffs now.
Falcons are going to be playing the game afterwards, so can they win without you?
Right. I think that's a very, very good answer indeed.
Of course.
The other question I just asked, last year, you won the WVC with Falcons.
You've changed teams since then. You're in play-off.
Falcons, not yet? Well, it's going to be a battle for its place.
Can they win without you?
In fact, I hope Falcons will qualify.
But in fact, they won't be in the team.
So good luck.
Because I think it's going to be a show.
And last but not least, you have many fans in Korea, in Japan, here in France,
and also worldwide.
So is there anything you want to tell us in the language you want, probably in Korea, maybe?
In Korea, maybe?
Thank you for supporting us.
We will keep winning. Thank you.
That's beautiful, and you gave it to me in English.
Thank you so much.
Once again, Chkae-ho.
Thank you so much for joining me, guys, and that's all for the translation.
and stay with us because in a few minutes we're going to be moving on to Elimination Games. Stand by.
Oh, we love the cosplay out here in Paris and we love the gameplay from Zelda Division.
Zelda Division is their new name. Jake, let's take a look here at Game 3 because Game 2,
New Junker City was looking great for GK, not the case when we get to Route 66, the classic map
with an unfamiliar result for the EMEA squad.
I mean, Shu, still the goat on Ana. You just can't take it away from this guy.
He's the best ever to do it on the hero. I think that's fair to say at this point,
one of our longest standing elite players in the game. And so, you know, we talk about
Prophet being one of the best in the game. They've also got Shu in the back line.
When Zeta can play that style, bringing out the honor, they are the best in the world to do it.
In a different series though, we don't start in Busan, I think we can see a different result.
Johnny, ZetaVision of course has proper, they have the incredible backline with Shu.
But this was the player's choice, right, to go to this new squad.
So why did they choose to go here, and why are they playing with these other three?
I mean, look, Chris Rakuna team Falcons, that used to be the Korean rivalry,
the past couple of years with OWCS.
But I think they went back and forth a couple of times.
They both of those teams had their own limitations.
And probably these players felt like we want to try something new.
We needed a new fresh air, new adventure.
And so these players came together and they're just incredibly skilled individually.
But those compositions we saw on Route 66,
no other teams really played those compositions.
They are a one-on-one.
They should be the favorites to win the entire thing.
And they got a set of tones out of the gate with this sweep dart between Cusablast,
some blasts, knocker players off the map.
They steamroll them.
There was four minutes and 30 seconds left on the clock
after they secured the second point.
Their opponent didn't even get past the gas station.
So Jake, we take a look forward here.
What is next for Zedr Division?
What do we have to look forward to for your GK fan?
It's going to be a scary team to go up against.
I don't think anybody wants to match up against Zedr,
as Donny said, right?
The fact that they're playing their own style,
something unique, you know,
I think all the best teams in this tournament
have found a way to differentiate themselves
from the competition
and a way to be more, more difficult to prepare for.
It's also a style that I just don't think
other teams are gonna be confident to play.
Like, you watch Shu from his POV
and he just hits everything.
Like, when the honor slips up, you know,
one cooldown goes awry,
you're essentially a sitting duck of free kill on the map.
It's only because Shu is just so unbelievably
lights out on the hero that he can consistently get away
and win his 1v1s.
Their trace of play was pretty darn good as well.
Let's take a look though at when TK was finding success.
That was in game number two,
We take a look at the highlights from Newjunk City.
This is what we should expect from the EMEA squad moving forward when they're at their best.
Is it with the mogging and play? What did you see?
Yeah, I mean, it's these brawl compositions who usually play together as five-butt alpha.
You have some incredible mechanics. These shots from Lava.
So, I mean, this is just fantastic gameplay on par with players like Fjord, for example.
And this is a win condition for EMEA.
Jake, you brought this up in the green room as well.
Well, I think if this team is able to get to the playoffs,
where we open up to a best of five,
they're actually allowed to play more of these kind of styles.
And we have more opportunities to play their preferred style.
I think that is when they could be better team,
but they don't have that opposing bounce against them.
I mean, watching the back on New Jug City,
there were some fights there.
I was legitimately stunned by GK's ability to win.
I mean, just their raw skill and that style.
So I want to see more from them.
They're not out just yet.
GKE Sports, JD Gaming, who goes home today?
Jake makes the call early.
I just, I've got KK going a long way in this tournament personally.
I think we didn't get to see really what, what I would have hoped for them in that match,
but it's because they go up against Zeta on Busan and Route 66, playing these crazy
on a comp. That's incredibly hard to match up into.
I think, and they get a more conventional matchup, which I would expect against JD gaming.
I think he cable annihilate them to zero.
Johnny, we've seen three teams through who's the strongest so far.
It's got to be set of the vision.
I mean, what we just saw, that was cinema.
That was just over cinema.
You can't ask for much more.
We have much more Overwatch coming your way after the break ladies and gentlemen.
Lock in, it's a long day here at EWC.
The human body was built to move.
Not trapped at the desk in one single posture for 12 hours a day.
It's time your chair evolved.
This is Secret Lab Titan Evil.
Ergonomically engineered for you.
Gamers.
Hybrid workers.
Artists.
Every move
What's up everybody? Yes, it's time for another pick-ups we heard from Poco and
Tio, but hey we can't forget about the fans, right? We got our friend here. What's your name?
Louis, Louis Chappell. Louis. Yeah, Louis nice to meet you. Thank you so much for doing this with me
All right, we're gonna be predicting T1 versus team Falcons first. I said
When I was with Poco and Tio T1's gonna win 2-1. What do you think? I was gonna say the exact same thing
I think Falcons they're on their way out. I'm sorry T1. I've got it. All right. We're on the same page
All right next match vero versus space station gaming. I am a very big barrel fan. They had an amazing performance yesterday
I'm rooting for a barrel. What do you think? I'm also rooting for barrel
All right, they're all winning at T1 winning. We'll find out soon. Thank you
I
The Falcons have arrived in Paris for day number three.
They didn't expect to be in the group stages still, but here they are after losing to Wabble
on the other side of this flight.
T1 was able to dismantle their competition in a swift 2-0 to close out day number two.
They meet up as one teams key will get crushed the other team will power into our bracket
It's a cider matches all day
We welcome so he back into the studio and so we this should be a fun one
You said this is gonna be a spicy meatball. Oh, it's so spicy
I want to say so many things that we're not saying on broadcast
Oh, you know, it's one of those matchups with if you know, you know, okay
It's one of those there's just a lot of history between those if I don't know is there any
Nothing I can do
We look at them, just who played with each other formally in the Overwatch League?
There's just a lot of history between those players, Fielder and Xio and Donghae, they all played together and you know,
I think Donghae is gonna be very motivated to win this one.
Let's start with the T1 squad Johnny, because we got the clips ready.
This was a beatdown on 9Z. If you're looking for stars from T1, who are you looking at?
So, yes, they just beat down 9Z pretty handily, that's what we expected.
But they did take a loss to Twisted Mind in the earlier matchup.
And that's where actually saw some fantastic signs out of this team.
I think Donghaek here playing Demaul against Hainzi.
I think he was a great player against Twisted Minds.
And Twisted Minds were playing this in a competition.
And I think we'll see similar matchup today.
So, if T1 is to upset team Falcons in this one,
I think Donghaek will have an amazing part to play in this one.
And like Zoe mentioned, the rivalry between Donghaek and Xiuwen Fielder on the Falcons side,
That is just one of the hardest rivalries in the entire scene. So I can't wait to see this one more time
What is more fun bowling DPS as it take or bowling the back line?
Yeah
We love this for donghaek today best of luck to him at 9z
Unfortunately had to take a shower
What does that mean? Does it mean he's lost?
Yeah, something like that.
I'm a big fan of the sign.
For absolutely no reason, but go Switzerland.
Overwatch Switzerland. Shout out to the stream.
What?
We got to talk about the Falcons before we do.
Danny had the opportunity to chat with someone.
The player.
Thanks guys. I'm here joined by someone from Team Falcons.
Someone, let's quickly talk about yesterday's match
against Rable Gaming.
Bit of a surprising loss for you guys.
What went wrong for your team?
What were the problems you faced in the last game, in the Wave game?
We had a good time yesterday, but I think we had a big problem in the middle.
We thought we were stronger in the 3rd game, so we need to fix that.
That was also the same thing for map 3 and call of sale as well
We couldn't finish strong enough and I feel like that was what led to our defeat against webo gaming now
Looking forward to today's match against T1. How are you guys feeling?
Are you confident in today's match against T1?
Yes, we are a strong team with T1 players.
We thought we showed a good performance yesterday.
If we remember those good performances and play today, we will be able to talk about it.
That for the interview. Thank you so much. Fighting.
Thank you. Fighting.
Someone always so energetic to chat with as we take a look at the gameplay.
It could be a showdown on the tank line to look at.
Unfortunately for the Falcons, Gushway Squad came out on top of that best of three.
So Johnny, taking a look at the fight today.
What do they need to do differently if you're a Falcons fan?
I mean, they're going to stick with their style.
I think they've been pretty one-dimensional so far.
Honestly, playing the Symmetra look, you're really slowing things down.
Someone spent a lot of time on the Sigma so far and I should think T1 are quite happy to match into this
Merit is back into the lineup after injury and he needs to be guns-abasing this guy is capable of taking the games over
But this is going to be a very difficult match for Falcons even though they are the reigning e-sports World Cup champions
I'm not necessarily sure they are favored in this one
So the fans have chosen the Falcons in this fight 72% are going with green 28%
Are siding with T1? How do you see it playing out?
I mean the fans have been trippin a little bit this event so far
I'm gonna be honest with you like no shade but no
I think I think this could be potentially a very very close match for sure because the history between those players
It is a different Falcons with Merritt in the lineup, which he wasn't with them really for the rest of the stage
Hence Falcons really on the perform
So they might look a lot stronger than what we saw in regular season. So what are you calling?
T1 or Falcons?
My heart says T1.
T1, Johnny? Our heart says T1 too.
Can't predict the heart.
My heart says Falcons.
We're moving on to the playoff bracket.
We'll find out whose heart is beating the right way.
Your heart's dead.
Whoa!
It's time to remove the safety net here at the SC Serena in Paris.
We've seen our upper bracket group matches completed.
We've got our four elite competitors locked in to our quarterfinals.
more playoff spots are up for grabs the question is who's going to step up and
take them. For the rest of the day it is dead simple win and you're in play-offs
but if you lose not only are you out of the tournament get directly back to the
airport and get to see Yogi crushed on stage in front of everyone. Lovely. The
highest of stakes normally leads to the highest of entertainment so let's bring
out our next team, starting with the title defenders.
Team Falcans!
One year ago, it's the team that lifted this trophy and stood at the top of the competition.
What followed was not the rain that many expected.
Fourth at the World Finals, domestic setbacks, an early career stage two exit that left the
defending champs outside the normal qualification places. They arrived through
the place that reserved for the holders. We know that they are starting to get
back to business. Can they continue here at the Esports World Cup?
But Ian, if you say Esports, there's one name that comes in mind and that name is T1!
you
It's so hard to say, because we've seen so many different sides of Alcans, I think it's
matchups of T1 since again
merit was absent from those. I
think this has the potential to
go to a free map series, and I
think if it does, it goes to T1
just because Vulcans have not
been able to close out these
first two series. Yeah, still a
brutal format in this first two.
I did speak to Swingship
beforehand in series. How you
a team. The team who is
going to play the championship
beforehand in series, You know
how you feeling? How's the
team vibe going? She said,
Well, we are quite nervous.
Me as in the GM. The players
know kind of calling God.
They're ready for this. T One
fans in the audience. Of course,
going to come out in storm. But
same with the Falcons, to be
fair, there's so much
expectation of riding on team
Falcon shoulders here. Those two
Gates unlocking just a moment.
Don't lock in the raft.
Someone's going to do the same.
Yeah, but look.
Fasting cap from T1.
Vulcans actually running spin in the mix.
No checkmate.
So you have the soldier, but you can keep the Cassidy.
To be able to keep a check of those players up in the sky.
It's a perfect place for Vulcans to play off of as well.
Because Zest, you have to put it in such an awkward spot,
swinging around like this.
very open. Looks like spin's gonna take the majority of the damage first up as
death is gonna dangled in front of the shield but someone place it very
defensively on top of spin so you can dance around avoid fashion fire.
That's right taking a lot of damage at this blister so that's not getting in position to be able to just hammer in the damage to stop
Balkans from just stepping onto the point already picking up cap. No point just yet
but now Balkans can just play avoidance.
It takes a little kunai there, now Proud trying to crush the point, taking too much damage from the sidelines though.
Donkhaak tries to make his move, merits, lights punched out, he's gonna follow up with a kill, maybe onto Kiel.
They're right up grabbing that mega health back, but it's someone that actually fights back.
Zest, Donkhaak now down, seeing Falcon still in control of this point and someone, yeah, easy clean up on Proud.
Spick just walks on, point takes this one, and they secure still.
Still, not yet with that rush, but Skewed also not in position to allow T1 to surge forward.
Pride actually swaps onto the Soju now to be able to try to map Wits with the poke that Merit and Spink can view,
try to split their attention by a little bit of safety possessed and blitzed to work with,
since T1 will be relying on that Bastion Cat and a rush to walk onto this point.
Yeah, that rush on the point and then says, just find a creeping over. Luckily, Merit was
able to survive for a little bit, but eventually picked up by Skewed. Good first cap, I gotta
say though, 63% plus you saved your own rush.
Yeah, and Polkens, like you said, they've got their own rush, they're also about to
hit a treasure trove of ultimates, as we'll have a look from Pride's perspective, 31 HP,
she was able to find that shot off onto Chiyo, but for T1 this is all about how well you can
hold the stage, you know that Kieler wants to move 15 forward. Okay, proud instantly going down,
the spit now high in the sky, and yeah, don't have, there's just no chance you survive there,
unless you go for a TP and a Zuzu, but it's just not going to come in, you're isolated,
You've already lost one. There's no point trying to hold on.
No stall as well.
Feel the committer rush that Falkens can just win the fight outright.
Nice, clean and fast, so only 27% fits up.
31. No rush.
No bashing cap. Flyby to open up their space,
which means that Falkens, they can just hold their ground at the other block.
There it's got the opening.
He's going to get kidnapped here, but still managing to get a little bit of damage off,
assisting someone in this annihilation.
Proud Scoot, dead, team Falcon set to win.
Donghack is waiting in the wings.
But how sneaky can you be on this ram?
He's got some sustainability with this annihilation, sure.
But getting on here and sticking on here is just going to be such a nightmare.
That's on the tracer as well.
Just put T1 to have someone to be able to separate from the fight.
Look for the fight.
Tien won't be won by Tio, though.
Mild already down.
Builder, that's a nice gunai headshot.
And yes, Donghack's looking around.
We're wondering where the rest of his team went.
Annihilation is going to get popped, but you have to get back to the points.
Too little, too late.
Team Falcons for the first round.
Yeah, I was a little unsure.
I will not lie.
When I saw that ram picked on the side of T1,
because it's not a look we've seen from them that often,
and it's not something that they really feel comfortable using,
I'll be honest, when we're looking at that performance.
Annihilation held the whole time.
essentially until that very last fight, we're also getting to see that this map volcanoes
the way that falcons could just position having won the first fight without having to worry about
a basting cat flying by on their flank to create space for t1 to be able to surge forward onto that
point does a whole lot of just shutting down a lot of that retake potential that they'll have here
at least as we head to a more open map of beach. Yeah, don't have to say, you know what, now there's
That's not for me on this round.
Why can this M-Ray pick my Brawl though?
A little bit of extra pressure on Shio.
Well, Cat versus Cat.
Gotta hit the shot first.
At this point, Blitz and Shio are both splitting away.
Tranks just choked the other time.
Yeah, speaking of that pressure, there is Brawl.
Shoot Shio a couple of times.
Nice little shield though from someone.
It's been very selfless right now with the shield,
making sure he supports the DPS and making the most of them.
It's just being forced off of that off angle by Chiru again.
Proves more than happy to just like find the one you want.
Uh, at Hearts, I still run down on to Spinpo, Donghae, Pops.
The, well, Pops every goon and almost there, just to get on top of it.
Speaking of which, and another storm.
What a good couple of pick offs.
Team Falcon's DPS just left on an island to them for themselves.
Spin actually goes to the Tracer.
He's just identified that T1 are wanting to play very stacked,
being able to engage off of donghax slams and if spin can find that in versus skew no
Cassidy to be able to try to peel for the Kiriko catching out that support could be crucial for
Vulcans to be able to stop leading sustain. Already so low, Tassuthi was forced super early,
he's been still forced to recall though back onto the point that met with Zest.
That's taken a little bit too much damage though, he's going to have to rave walking just a moment,
the brown triple headshot there onto spin takes him out and now it's seen Falcons there kind of
the crumbling, proud, low to high, gets a couple, and that should be fight over with.
Vulcans are trying to do everything that they can to get this tracer on top of skew, but
he just sues his teleports, prides able to find the picks, and don't act on Mauga, so
even with the Kirikou split away from the tank, you still have the sustain. Speaking
about on the Mauga, he's currently attached to Blitz, playing above so that Merrick gets
no opening shots to farm Rail until you won't have to worry about swinging too far into
fully charged up sojourn. Oh well, yikes, alright, okay, no worries. Team Falcon, do you find a pick
or you hit the reset button? Looks like it's gonna be a reset at least for someone. There's the
stop, there's the start, they have the name too. Yeah, there's no chance someone gets out of that
alive. He hasn't got a dash, he hasn't got a jump, he hasn't got any. This is brutal. Donhack's playing
on Falcon's side of the map, by the way. Zest pride running at someone from one side, forcing out
that Nemesis form for the block, but that only is for with racing, which means that Donhack's
It's getting the full damage behind.
Vulcans looking light-less in this map so far.
They'll have five ultimates coming up for this one fight,
but if they have to burn the whole stock,
what are the chances that they win the fight after?
Oh, well, Mary's in the sky, and he's got an OC.
There it is, gonna get Rift really early on,
and he can't really get too much damage down.
Everybody from T1 are giving him the respect that he deserves.
Proud now, up into the sky.
I can do that solo though with that living weapon,
and actually mentioned as a snipe builder,
A quick kidnap onto someone, but the annihilation is just not gonna help him kill Donghae.
There's too many players looking at someone.
Team Falcons, dump their old bank, and team one just stabbed up.
That's a hundred to zero the second round.
Someone gets put in timeout corner.
That was Malga Cage to totally take away any space from annihilation.
Catnap on top as well, by the way, just to make sure that someone has no opportunity of playing the game.
adds all of that Malva swap. We talked about it, right? T1, they've been looking so clean with the Malva.
Now you start thinking, what if they started on the Magra and Volcano in the first place?
Yeah, look at that. And then Zest is just behind him, just Bump, Bump, Bump.
The Reaper guy is a pretty simple guy. You get close to an issue.
Yeah, sometimes you don't actually need to be all that close.
True, higher triggers go.
Yeah, those shotguns, surprising amounts of range attached to them.
as T1's. If it ain't broke, don't swap it. Same composition as up to Vulcans to bind an
in, and now you think they'll be able to do it off of far-range pressure flybys from
the Kat Vastian? And putting spin, opposite ratio onto the Weeper still trying to find
that pressure on to skewed.
They could be apprehensive to push in here at T1. But of course, spin didn't hit that
shift first it'll rate what? Same with the Zestler. Alright here comes the swing in from Merit
and now they try and make the move. Since this turret form is out of there, it should be good to
move up. They're on the point now. Don't have to take so much damage though. Look at this off angle
from Team Falcons currently. Speaking of dire triggers, there you go. Spin fixer up a kill on
the Donhack. They're breaking slice, fight for Team Falcons. Only using Killer. Yeah just
Contorting so much damage onto Don't have that skewed blisters. Don't get the opportunity to be able to kill them up and
Prior to swaps onto the bastions be able to match wits with Merrick fly by for both of these teams
To one relying yet again on that same
Bastion lifeline swing so that Vulcans don't get the chance of simply taking don't have down before you can close up the distance. Oh
Okay
Swing it in, swing it in.
All good, this is already in there.
Whoa, Fielded just goes down. Okay.
Longhatch is up in their face.
That was a very quick rotation there from T1.
You can't be tying like that if you're Fielded first.
I'm curious if that was just an explosion of damage and quick burst?
Yeah, I mean he has to have been stunned right by the Magus land.
But then being caught up by the Magus land, when TP surely was active.
That's it. Reavus misplay from Vulcans, which allows T1 full control of the space, Bastion Burst and Bastion Flyby.
Try not to find that angle, but keep your eye on where Donhack shows up.
I feel like there should be a workshop code, just permanently being dangled in the Bastion. It's got to be at some point.
We've got TXTXX, we need a Bastion version. Nice deathboss mode from Spitz.
She had to get their kidnapped kill onto Donhack. However, Spitz is playing on Team Falcon's Rush right now.
It's kind of coaxing them in. Zest is gonna hit his deathblossom who's down.
He'll fill up his fence right behind him.
Good clean up from the Reaper as Team Falcons get a flick.
Yeah, that's spicy actually that Falcons one side of Rush and Deathblossom.
Invested from Zest.
Caribless.
Now, let's default someone out of position.
Completely, LOSing his team as well.
Has to pop the annihilation.
Oh, crowd-tracking!
They jump away with a puppy-type barrage.
After that ravenous vortex connected with his feet,
Braav gets destroyed there as team falcons end up taking that fight.
Yeah, Greg coordination, Donghaek used them out of the cage.
Once someone was pulled out of position and bolted, had to just try to
maneuver closer to that romantic to keep them up.
Taking pride, damn, means a close fight can't go on through.
Q1 now left only with the bastion ult and sweating body, and Meron falls.
Yep, and now Braav just popped the ult with immunity.
A bit of damage.
I'm a quite someone kind of dodging into the shield for that one.
There's the cardiac overdrive, a long hangout,
Chiyo getting in his face, he's getting a little bit too low,
has to dash away.
There's a catnap coming up, he's just a moment from Chiyo,
only 20%, however, the focus right now is on someone.
Liss takes that, him down, but Team Falcons,
they are still on the point, just looking to get OT at this point.
Spin, Deathmosser, can be used now, maybe.
I mean, look, already, Zest is used as shift.
Manchester's gonna take me away.
What an outplay from Zest!
Insane mind games from Zest, spent before he had that one in the bag after he's able
to foresight that ray form, but great teleport, keeps him up, takes him out of the range of
death blossom, lets him find the kill too.
Vulcans, if they've been able to keep that Reaper up, probably seal out the fight there
and then, she won't get one more chance to be able to hold that ground.
Rush vs Rush, and at the moment trying to shut someone down as well.
Looking at these bats at the moment though, both Shio and Bliss have the ult.
They're going to swing, crowd in, oh but Mary actually ends up going down first.
Gnap Gnap, Shio trying to grab somebody and now looking at the back of Donghae.
That movement speeds to go over towards someone to get the heal up.
There is the catnap from Bliss, and now someone is in dire need of help.
T1 forcing Falcon to reset for this final fight.
This is huge. If they can find one more pick up onto Vulcans, but they don't want to overextend in case they get quit early.
Merit with the artillery strike trying to clear the space for Vulcans to walk up. We'll go to a 99-99% fight, rush versus rush, but T1 have more ults for the follow through.
Yes, waiting in the wings too, joining the front line now, there's the start, no stun, sorry there's the stop.
As they're still with the ult, Cage gets popped as well, it's just a disaster though, he only ends up killing spit.
Someone is just absorbing all that damage with the annihilation.
Longhack now moving forward, artillery barrage here from Proud, Longhack's already got a couple of his now, only someone on the point to try and stay alive for the rest of the team.
the team, Gio joins him, gets a couple of heals off his proud end of going down. This
nemesis one was only going to last so long though, he's gone, had a go for another stop.
Great, straight on top of someone. Eliminating from the map. And that will be T1. Claiming
the first.
I feel a Malga fan coming on.
Map two. Surely you have to remove that Malga from play. Cat was a problem too, to be honest.
So many good catnaps, just finding that attachment onto someone, grabbing him out of position,
making sure as well, there's always one person from T1 in front of the ramp to force them
to have to hold up the block, and multiple players behind him to make sure they can get
the damage past the damage reduction.
Brilliant, brilliant plays from T1 to be able to keep Hawkins in check.
Look at this. 19 HP. TP's away. And that is just dirty. T1 off to an early lead here,
returning champions in Falcons. They might end up going down. First to two, key crush
on the line in this series with a playoff spot for the victor. Someone's face there.
You can see how much obviously it means to him. Almost rolling his eyes there too, like
we could have done so much more. T1 backroom staff too, as yet Poco is also going to be
pretty happy. It's that last rush fight as well, there's
so much like min-maxing that Dong hack is able to get done, even though the annihilation
is on Falcon's side. We've got Lou down on this stage with Trav
to give us an update on the championship points. Thanks to our lovely casters, I am
I'm very glad to welcome Trav, our lovely club championship reporter at Stage 4 here at the STC Arena.
Trav, how has it been looking on Stage 4? Which games have you had? Tell me about it.
Yes, so we've mainly kind of focusing on the fighting game strategy games so far with that Fatal Fury.
Street Fighter going on at the moment as well, so it's kind of the 1v1 games that we're having over there.
And to be honest, it's not been the best for the higher-up clubs.
We've had Navi who have been thriving, they did really well in Fatal Fury taking the win in the first week
in the second week managed to get second in MWI as well, which is the MLBB Women's International.
So, yeah, it's Navi who have been thriving on our stage for the most part.
Sounds crispy. Could it be an outsider's EWC? I'm pretty curious.
The first question. For the championship club, how is it going on stage 4?
On our side, we are mainly on strategy games, V1 games.
We have Street Fighter, Fatal Fury, etc.
On our side, it's Navi who shines at the moment.
But here we are in our home, Ian and I.
You know, we lived there at stage one, STC Arena,
and currently it's Overwatch.
So could you tell me to which clubs it matters
getting those points on Overwatch?
Yeah, so at the moment,
it's Team Falcon's kind of left wanting
when it comes to club championship points.
Obviously the reigning champions of 24 and 25
really need to get a win on the board at the moment
for the 1,000 points, but not only because of that,
they've got so many teams across the board,
but you still need that win
to be able to take the crown in the club championship.
You know, it kind of goes to the same
for Twisted Minds still wanting some points,
VPC sitting second at the moment in the club championship lead of all as well as another one that would greatly benefit from a big win in overwars
So Saudi oryx on on overwatch and also of course VP T1 etc
So the question is on overwatch which club we need from these points to get a little bit of Gucci, let's just say Falcons
First of all, Twisted Mind also has a lot of clubs but for them these points could clearly make the difference between Averkus pro and T1
And last but not least the most important because this could start by a winner Falcons
You more of a T1 boy or a Falcons boy?
Listen Falcons might be down, but I'm going Falcons all the way going Falcons on the way and of course is pleasing the crowd
Thank you very much for joining me. Thank you. Bokwin. Let's get back to our game. See you
Knowing that you were one of the reasons why they took home the trophy last year in the club championship
It's got to be on their minds at almost every single stage of this tournament here in the mid-season.
Team Falcon's now down a map.
T1, they need one more to crush their key and lock themselves with a spot in the playoffs.
If you're Falcon's, how do you try to bounce back?
It's what surely, surely this is the ban on the Mauga.
As we'll see, checkmate, replacing Spint, Merit remaining that staple DPS player.
Naidaki has been able to return to the fold, but yeah, if you're falconed, it's a top one because
that's running through your head. You had the opportunity. The tank ban, the tank roll was
not saved. That ban could have been yours. You could have gone after that Mauga,
And you have them over a barrel easily on Volcano. You saw how uncomfortable that
Dunghack was on that rematch right into the mirror. It all changes when he goes to
the mag. Like all of those engages, all of our attention, every time that T1
try to walk back into those fights. We follow the perspective of the Cat Bastion
because right, that's the opener, right? But you also have to feel what's
What's Dunghack doing at those points?
How many people from Balkans are in charge of looking with the Cap Bastion and therefore
not in position to be able to peel Fielder when the Malga slams forward because it feels
multiple times that they just got caught out of position by a Malga running directly at
them.
I think bigger picture too here as well with team Falcons.
They're not exactly the same team that ended up winning last year either.
Of course, proper now on Saita division.
I think Mitch said it on the cast kind of perfectly.
You have created this.
You have created this monster team in Zeta.
So, you know, Falcon's almost in a way like,
hey, we've lost one of our star players
who's now on a different team.
We want to be able to prove that,
hey, we can do it without him.
We can prove it again.
It's been two years in a row that Falcon's
have taken home the club championship
and Team Falcon's as a team as well in Overwatch
have just been dominant for so damn long.
Now, what do you think the game plan here is for T1?
We're going to get the fans and the map selection in just a moment.
And I said, look, I think Malgen probably is going to get fans here by Falcons.
But if you're T1, you're banning second, what's the thought process?
Curico, potentially.
I think that was one of the more detrimental things for Falcons to have to lose.
You could potentially go for something like the Sim.
If it's Neon Junction, for sure, I want to see them remove the Sim.
But if it's a map like Flashpoint, I would really like to see them try it.
I'm even more necessary.
Yeah, not Flashpoint.
And also, not Neon Junction.
A map which I feel like Vulcans had so much confidence when we saw them fall down this field.
It really did look like Neon Junction would be one of their best maps, even though they lost it yesterday
and probably lost a bit of confidence in how they played it yesterday.
today. They were still able to
hold Waibo gaming offer a very
long time offer things like
that may since the sin got
targeted by will tell you what
it's great on Shambhali
Monastery. Rematra very, very
strong. Almost too strong. It
feels like on this man. This
man also feels like a little
bit of a one. That's not a
I think it's going to be fine.
Surely.
Blue list.
This map feels like a rare one.
It actually just feels like an ultra-rare trading card or something.
You're pulling this from the map pool.
Very rarely through Shambhali Monastery.
You've seen it a little bit here, obviously, at mid-season,
but not a map that has been in the pool for quite some time.
In fact, a lot of the maps in the pool, I feel like,
would not reared its head.
And let's quickly talk about what you were just talking and chatting about that way, though.
That was an upset.
Yeah, sure, like sure every now and then a Chinese team is going to go all the way with the Korean team, but if you're Falcons
How what's going through your head when we both eliminate you there and push you down to the lower bracket?
Because you're not expecting to lose to a Chinese team now not at all
You've always beaten them. Yeah every time two years
Two years you've been able to beat label gaming and then they beat you and now you have to come in
next day, lower bracket run,
first two format, go down one
map. Right. Here we go.
Shambhali Monastery, second map
pick by Falcons here. Look at
about the far and then there's a
diva band on the other side for
T one. You saw the backroom
staff of T one a moment ago with
that they're taking the win. I mentioned before, a couple of them saying to me like how nervous
they were coming in and you've got to be. I mean, check me, um, Sweet Chips, why would
check me before? And a lot of the players on the screen right now, like count how many
Overwatch League players are here. There's a lot. There's so much history and even so
he was talking about how Don Hac filled a cheer they were previous teammates back in
the Overwatch League as well.
Ok T1, Rematra returned for Donhack, looked uncomfortable on the hero on control, potentially
it's just the map type.
Now that you get to play the defense, now that you can actually position your shield
and stay behind it as opposed to being ran away from it the moment that it's downed,
this can find more value especially since the Zest will be on that cap.
Bastion they saw what falcons were struggling into they saw how much merit had to do to be able to shut down the cat Bastion yesterday
And they want to play it themselves
Yep long range name
Look at this devious position. Oh, goodbye merit
Just all on shot. He barely got his mouse like halfway across his mouse mouse before he died
Yeah.
You get a little surprise attack from Zest.
This is really good smart heads up play from T1 as well, right?
Because they're playing more on the Cat Bastion and not relying on Donhack running directly
at Vulcans, which was why Chio actually started on that Nuzuki.
I'm pulling that cringe in my ranked game.
That's all I'm saying.
Oh no.
Check this guys.
For when the Cat Bastion flies as Vulcans, try to just find some presence on the point
itself.
They're fighting so much damage before the fight starts, as T1 they've got Vulcan's role of playing with the Kertbaskin, but they're also shutting down Pyke's rotation with the Freya.
This TP Jpeg's actually on his own right now and needs to be able to take this.
They trade Merit for Skewed Shore, but Sessing the frontline is going to be able to chew through someone's health bar, and the rest of his team just kind of dominating the backline.
Yeah.
Team Falcon's getting team killed.
The Vulcan sort of try to ignore the Kertbaskin right?
Take the fight somewhere where they kept asking, can't comfortably follow, unless that full commit to the drop down.
And Kethy just gets dropped in the backline.
And he just gets dropped right behind Falkens, who are still having to deal with Donghaek and proud in front of them.
Movement has been made, the first time we've got to see the cop fully move as Falkens looks to attack, but T1 is just giving space for Donghaek to hit the backline.
Donghaek's just walking into the backline alone.
The bowler as well is just going to connect with practically everybody from Falcons.
I mean, the bowler with the bastionel.
Yeah, that's one sweep there.
Look at this.
Oh, this is brutal.
Oh, and that was...
How many frames was someone not holding the grass there?
Yeah.
Perfectly timed by Brown.
See, this is something that Falcons were actually punished for yes,
they were just wavering like that.
Just going to get...
...per the same thing here, and yeah.
So that's why we'll just keep doing this, because usually we don't find kills.
Look how much time it burns.
Rush though for a field, but someone's already really low.
Sets it again with another giant blank around the native.
Five people on Falcons.
Completely concussed.
Have two unlosted player.
I'm pretty sure the defense has been deftless this whole time.
And we're about to hit the last minute of this map.
If your Balkans right now, you're panicking.
OK.
Everybody calm down.
We've got Rush.
We've got Bola.
We can end it here.
Falcons on the other hand though, they have got the Symmetra wall and very much a fight winner. Someone's got this high ground
It's gone low already. He's just instantly destroyed. Tank now down, wall comes out for checkmate
But in this position, what can you do? Mizuki's sanctuary on the point and they just feed into Donghang
Looking like prime Mike Tyson out there with the punches he's swinging and Team Falcons only a minute left in the bank
It's desperation, cheer off of the Mizuki, all invested, Nair has to get merit in position
but he drops him.
You can see Vulcans, they're starting to come apart.
Little mistakes like that show the panic that they're starting to fall free too.
It all comes down to this one last fight.
You can't lose this duel in the sky, you just can't.
Both face going out already and Zess happy to take this duel, goes pretty low, both
fashions and their prospective cats end up dying away just getting out of dodge. Garage comes in but
hold on a second someone is really low they have to keep him alive here he's got the flux he's got
the game and the fight winning ultimate here as they push us forward he's going to pop it in the
empty 64 hp man should smash out the way but Zest is going to just shoot him out of the sky
and he's on the high ground too they're at the only one touching right now 14 falcons of Donghae
Happy to take the 1v1, the cat map.
That's going to signal the end of the push.
T1 with a full hold on Shambhali Monastery.
This is not how Falcons want to go out.
This, how quick this second map could be.
This is not the Falcons we're used to.
You can see there was acceptance as well of that last fight
when they just try to go to the cart to have any distance that they can
to get one more fight chance if they lose the Coruscite on defense.
But this, like this moment here, Webo did the same thing.
This was something that Vulcans, when they take the TP,
they instantly take the teleport. There's no dilly-dallying, there's no baiting.
So everyone knows when they see that Symmetric Teleport come up
that Vulcans will all come through afterwards to be able to send out things
like the Freibola shop, and you can see like that reality. The fact that you might be seeing
your ki crushed after last year, you were the one crushing ki after ki after ki, that's
starting to set in.
Zest and Bliss, the perfect Kat Bastion doing zero deaths.
I should point this out, I did not play Kat Bastion so far this tournament.
They looked at Balkans history, they saw how hard they struggled into Kat Bastion, they're
playing it themselves as someone, yeah, it has to be a close-hold.
We're playing right up to the doors.
Checkmate's playing the sim too.
There was a way to get out of this fight if they need to, but this is going to be the
big problem.
Zest is just going to hold this high ground.
I say high ground.
the top of the sky box and shoot down.
Merit's already really low.
Someone, where's your shield at?
Where is it gone?
It's already dead, and Merit's gonna follow.
This close hold is just not it against this Kat Vastion.
No.
And time's ticking.
First fight lost.
Polkens having the extra distance,
having lost the third last fight on defense,
now will come into play because it buys them
one more chance, one more team fight,
but they will have no space, no ultimate.
It all comes down to this one last fight, and Pride's about to hit BOLAR SHOP, but before they can even touch the point they have to get past the cap-astion.
And they actually get an early kick.
This Golden Boxer victory is just so damn close.
Proud is trying his darndest right now to shoot checkmate who's around R-HP currently.
They've gone this side of the map until you've won you have so much to hide behind.
Here comes the Mirage from Azest, here comes the Bowler too, and it is absolutely massive!
Shio just detonates in the front line, and your reigning EWC champions are gonna get crushed!
T1, they saw above the Valkans to claim their playoff spot!
First seed coming out of their region. We said keep an eye on this team. They may well
surprise you and surprise us, surprise Palkens. They certainly did.
a big, big moment for T1. Last
time they faced it was a 3-0, a fairly dominant game as well. And you were thinking they could
just carry that energy on from that playoff seat and decide a match, and it feels like
they just had their number. I wouldn't say someone's been struggling at all, but he just
got outplayed by Donghae here.
That Weibo gaming loss,
maybe still weighing on team Falcons.
Team One now, they're crushing their key.
As we see a team that we expect
to make it extremely far in the competition,
get knocked out before playoffs.
That's precious points too for Kupchanginja, for Falcons.
They were able to find that title.
Last time, off of the win for Overwatch,
You have to have one win for a title to be able to go to that club championship and Falkens
have now been denied finding it with an overwatch, they'll have to find it somewhere else.
Let's get a word from Proud down on the stage, joined by Lou.
It is official guys, the title defenders are out, eliminated by T1, Kaeya, congratulations,
of course Proud.
And I imagine this must feel good because historically Falcons have been your nemesis in Korea.
You were struggling to beat them. Now you've beaten them twice in a row.
So is it officially the end of your curse against Team Falcons?
It's been a long time since you've had a hard time fighting.
It's officially the end of the course.
Yes, it's clear that the first win gave us a lot of confidence.
We were very happy to fight.
So it's clear that behind it was able to continue.
And you know there is a little bit of a banter from what I understood from you and the Twisted Mind player Quartz.
He said that you guys never managed to beat Twisted Mind in a series, so can you tell me why is it going to be different in playoffs?
Coach, you said that you can't beat T1 against T1, or you can't beat the teamfight.
I think you can talk about this in the playoffs.
What do you think and why?
We know that T1 is a good team, but we think our mistakes are more important in this game.
So we'll win the next time we meet.
With Twisted Minds, there's a bit of banter with the player Quartz.
He's a bit of a searcher.
Quartz said that he had never beaten them,
that T1 had never beaten Twisted Minds in a game,
that it was a team game.
What does that mean?
He says yes, it will be different,
because we are excellent at killing comps that are symmetrical
when we play the same thing in front of us.
I think that we lost because we made mistakes
and we will obviously improve the next time.
But talking about the team that you just took down Falcons,
we're going to get to the key,
Crusher together, Kaja.
Let's go.
We have T1 eliminating the title defenders.
Falcons here, that's a low blow for the club.
Championship run here for Falcons.
They needed those overwatch points,
but they are out already and crushed by T1's Proud.
That was insane. I'm going to welcome you back both onto the stage. I imagine you must feel amazing. You have many, many fans, of course, as a T1 player.
Is there anything you want to share, anyone you want to thank here for that journey and being in playoffs?
I'm sure there are fans who are cheering for T1 as well as T1 players.
Could you say a word to the fans who are watching the world with you all around the world?
First of all, thank you for cheering for us, thank you for coming all the way here.
And just like that, Falcons are out in groups and another title at EWC.
The Overwatch loss was not on my big old card, we have Johnny and Zoe in the studio.
So I want to start with you.
You mentioned this is a feel-good win for Donghack the Tag.
What is the history here?
Why is this such an important win?
I mean, as I said, or alluded to previously, he did play with the support backline from the team of Falcons and I would say that...
Gio wasn't nice to him.
Yeah, Gio and Fielder and Donghae, they may or may not have gotten along so well.
That said, I think they buried the hatchets.
I recently saw a picture of them in front of the Eiffel Tower, so...
Okay, alright.
Well, let's take it from the Eiffel Tower.
It's not enough for me to believe that Honghae hates that guy in-game.
They beat him 14 times in a row, and now finally, Dongak got two of his own in a row against him.
They do touch gloves before fighting in most boxing and MMA matches.
Shout is, we take a look at the highlights here.
Who was throwing the haymakers that you saw throughout this two-game series?
Look, T1, they are just way more refined on these cat compositions,
and you saw they put so much pressure on someone to tank off loudest people.
He didn't say that again for the newer fans.
In these cat compositions, yes, we have a character called Jetpack Cat.
continue. Lots of verticality and it just messes up all the positioning in this game and it's not
a game that Falcons want to play. Falcons historically, they want to play around abilities
and get value. They want to beat it with Merrick's Mechanics and T1. They were the smarker team this
time around. They were just better when it came to Jethra Kat and the Basin teaming up and trying
to win that aerial duel instead. We saw Dongaq here on Demauga did fantastic work throughout
putting a lot of pressure onto someone and when that tank is gone for Falcons, you take away
the head and there's just nothing remaining for them. For the Falcons, they were returning
Chip and they are now out of the competition. They of course had players from the last year's
team that are on all their pieces left in this tournament. Who else could you watch
that won a trophy last year that's still in it, Johnny?
Well, it's going to be proper. It's going to be proper, doesn't it?
Yes, it is. Yeah.
Yeah, it's going to be proper for some divisions. So I hope it's still alive. I mean, there
was a recently left the game. He saw a weakness with Falcons and he went to set a division
instead thinking he had a better chance to win the chip.
Joey, there is a look at the key crush one more time.
That one was loud.
I was able to smash this bad boy.
Had to be a great feeling, because everyone doubted 2-1.
Only 23% of the fans sided with him.
Which is kind of crazy, because we had so much hope for them.
Last year, they were like the up-and-comers, right?
They were the ones who wanted the change of guard.
We wanted to see them taking down all those veterans.
And I feel like last year, they were just
on the brink of doing so.
And then they just kind of slowed down.
Luckily, Falcons also slowed down this year tremendously, in fact, so, yeah, I think it
was written in the stars, so I think Falcons' performance prior to this event was already
disappointing.
And a lot of people want to see a twisted mind's T1 matchup see courts versus crowd.
There's been a lot of talk there, Johnny, is there another matchup you think would be
a good fit for T1 as we get to the bracket?
We'll be doing a draw show at the end of the day.
I think T1 matches up pretty well against both teams, but most of those E&B A teams
a Symmetra, we saw the Mauga come out from GK previously. I think those are the match-ups
that T1 probably have the same style for. The question for me is, are they as good
as the EMEA teams on that playstyle? They said they're ready to smash the Symmetra
Cup no matter what you bring. T1 will be ready for it tomorrow. In the meantime, we will
be back with another match. It is day three of Overwatch at the Esports World Cup 2026.
you
So thank you so much for joining me now Nico I gotta say I think it's safe to say that barrel is one of the most popular team here at the midseason championship to be fair you guys aren't really the strongest team but yet everyone everyone loves barrel why do you think that is
I think it's the most popular team. What's the reason?
Well, I have to correct you. We are the strongest team.
We are the strongest team at the beginning.
Especially, there are a lot of players who are humorous.
When it comes to KSG, Egao is pretty cute.
Top Dragon and Slay are also very popular players.
I think that's why they are so popular.
Well, like I have to correct you. Like we are the strongest team. Like, you know, I got really like caught up by what you just said.
But like, you know, we are not the strongest teams, but like, you know, we are the strongest team.
And why we are popular is because like, you know, we are a bunch of humorous members.
members like for example KSG has a very lovely smile and
Top Dragon and Slay are
Very very famous throughout the world globally. So yes, that's the secret about our popularity really
Nico, I'm so sorry. Yes, you guys are the strongest. I will correct Verl's the strongest team at EWC
Alright, talk about being the strongest you guys are facing off against SSG. How confident are you going into that match?
Yes, I'm very sorry. Yes, Valor is the strongest team in the world. Next, it's going to be a match with SSG, but how confident are you?
Yes, we lost the World Final in the last World Final, so we prepared a lot for that. We will definitely win.
like pay them back.
We had like spent all our energy and time to prepare for it.
So like, you know, we are definitely going to win this time.
All right.
I am very excited, Nico and also Verrill.
Fighting, kappa tei kudasai.
Arigatou masu.
Arigatou masu, thank you so much.
Arigatou.
Can't help but love that guy,
but the fans only have 20% of their faith in Verrill today.
Do you agree with him?
I mean, yes, but still, how dare, how dare you?
Okay, yeah, I've been cooking on this one.
Listen, look at the bracket of last year,
because last year they got knocked into the lower bracket
by Korea's number one.
Same thing happened this year.
Then they won against China's number three.
Huh, that happened again.
And then they got knocked out by NA's number two.
Now they're going up against NA's number two.
So script writers just went for a copy paste here,
but surely, they're going to change their fate.
deja vu doesn't happen in frizz does it Jake if that's exactly that's that's
I I do think though for Verrill this is gonna be a scary one
I mean heavy hitters from the DPS line and SSG I think sugar free and lethal are two of the
Strongest players from North America in this tournament and they're gonna absolutely turn it up
So for Japan, you know, this is not a region where they're often tested against this level of DPS performance
And I think that could be a really tough issue for them in this match
We got 30 seconds to the stage, so Jake, how many maps do we go to?
I'm going to go 2-0, SSG. I think they're more experienced at this level of play,
more experienced under this kind of a pressure.
I talk about the history for Verrill. They just haven't had that kind of opportunity really to rise.
They're the best in Japan, but it's really hard to continue to level up
when you find yourself alone at the top of your region.
It's maybe also been the problem for SSG at times,
but I think that they face a lot more adversity and just a lot more veterans on their careers.
their careers. So I am looking at Top Dragon for this Veral squad. Who are you looking at
on the stage for this fight? I mean, yeah, it's going to be coming down right top drag
needs to perform on the other side. Lethal has been performing all tournament long.
If he's once more wearing his big boy carry pants, a favorite phrase, then it might just
be SSG's game for two maps. It's been a fun ride so far. Unfortunately, this is the end
of the road for one of our two teams. Jake, final call. Who did you say is going to win?
I've got SSG2O, I think this is NA making it in.
And you're calling?
Well, you know what, 2-1, 2-1, 2-1 for SSG, but 2-1.
I believe in Niko's smile.
The girls getting through.
Why not let the chaos continue here at EWC 2026?
It's the mid-season championship
as we continue on the stage.
Wow, wow, wow, title defenders, Falcons are officially our big news,
Effectivement, the defenders of the title Falcons are eliminated from the competition.
A nice revenge for T1 shining on the Korean stage pop.
That means a lot, man.
It really does.
We've seen, of course, the Falcons' wings clicked here in Paris
and the title defenders key crushed for the world to see.
But with their demise, opens the door wide open for the remaining contenders.
And the next two to step out onto the stage, it should be a lot of fun.
Yeah, it's going to be a lot of fun and I'm especially excited about one player.
He has the worst position when it comes to gaming,
But he has a bright smile. He's funny.
I'm rooting for him. It's KSG.
I'm really looking forward to seeing Sugar 3 step out here
and lead his team onto the stage.
Before we bring them out, I want to give a shout out
to our fans, our passionate Overwatch fans here in Paris.
Make some noise for yourselves.
Thanks for coming out.
Make some noise!
So bring out the next teams.
Let's go for it. The first team comes from America
and it is Space Station Gaming!
Space station gaming, the North American underdogs.
We need their consistency on stage, but maybe even more now, in loser bracket, when you're
not allowed to fail one more time.
Their tests, now on the international stage, and with bright smiles and confidence, can
Can they take you here in Paris?
Please welcome their opponents.
It's VAROLE!
For years, Japan has set for a team capable of standing with the world's best.
VAROLE have become that team.
A critical win over AGL yesterday kept their heart beating in Paris
and now they need to find the strength to go again
Because the players in the mid-season championship playoffs hangs in the balance.
Back against the wall, it's time for them to step up their game.
VARO vs SSG starts now.
So we have NA's established contender versus Japan's perennial champion
with a payoff spot on the line.
Now, I imagine that the space station are hoping to convince us that yesterday was an exception, right?
That thrashing loss, something they want to put in the rear view mirror quickly.
Varel, though, would like to prove that yesterday was just about beginning.
A big win over JDG, they look like they've been solid, but this might be another level for them.
And so he teased out of it a history that, of course, for Varel, in this mid-season championship has been pretty reminiscent of last year.
Yes, he got a little bit of a highlight reel of all of Donghax kills on Chiyo.
I'm sure Donghax will be watching that a little bit later.
With the story there, it's a game.
Yes.
Varro, I think, is under, I think it would be fair to say, immense proportion, right?
This is a team that obviously has a massive fan base,
representing Japan as supposed to be the first map in the series.
And they are desperate for this team to make it to a playoff, to a deeper tournament here in OWCS.
And this might be their best opportunity they've had to do it.
So any questions about SSG?
It was obviously AGL, the barrel got passed yesterday, excuse me.
It was JDG that SSG started their mid-season championship campaign against.
And they're pretty solid.
These are established names, both from North America and Europe of course.
of course, and it's like lethal on this roster that are ganked for higher for quite some time,
that brings a lot of intangibles to his teams. A bit of levity, but when he gets in the server,
sometimes he just decides to become server admin. Yes, I mean lethal, just like an unbelievable
hitscan, the ability to kind of take over the game, then sugar-free, right? I mean,
how good he has been over the last few years in North America. Somewhat like,
never really forgotten, right? But like, he's someone to come all the way around to be like
slightly underrated at this point I feel like. I think he's just a victim of the region at large.
Being a little witcher on the way. I mean what the first year we were here at EWC he was in the
final. Absolutely. Toronto Ultra. Yeah. That's a sick carry gum for map number one. I think one of
the benefits for SSG right is that Hawk is able to play so many tanks at a high level. He's been
doing it for ages. I love whenever I see him at events he's kind of picking his mind about the
the game he's so smart. Yeah he's come and gone. Found love in the game again and is now competing
at the highest level for NA. Ultraviolet, someone who will always look to in the game on his own
terms. The first time we ever saw him in an Overwatch competitive game, like their professional game,
he got like a five take off a biodegrading. So yeah this guy truly exploded onto the scene and
it's become a true flasher alongside the rest of space station gaming. Off we go folks, only one
spot in the playoffs available between these two the loser has the key and dreams
crushed. The barrel would be the dreams of a whole region yeah crushed right
and he also for SSG right I mean team Liquid already out right Dallas fuel in
that lower bracket SSG as well. That could be bad for North American overwatch
here too.
Hanna plays really takes safe position to another level entirely.
Hope for this dude.
Straight out of line of sight and Ultima just straight up locked that door so
a little bit harder for Hork to get a call upon his healing.
Admiral also not getting any of it.
Slayze able to finish him off.
Where's the healing guys? Where is it?
Yeah, I mean SSG in a weird spot at the moment.
Rate so much pressure.
On to Lethal on this side of the map.
Top Dragon was here with Slay.
So he was never really able to kind of free fire over the point.
They never really get the bash in the right spot either,
and they quickly move away from Cat Bastion.
It'll be still staying with the Cat.
So Jetpack has been proven to be pretty strong even without that bash in play,
but Sojourn Tracer now, the slot's here for Spacey.
Yeah, switch off the classic label.
I don't think the ultraviolet's going to be looking at TECA 1v1 against Cloud any time soon again.
He is going to be needed to keep Hawk by some fit.
And yeah, he's dropped down now, but now I would be pressured by Top Dragon, who's been shaked off by Admiral.
They're trying to make a play for this Rematcher here, right? A few times we've been on with UV or, you know, Hawke,
and they're trying to pressure down and get the tradition to collapse onto this ram,
but it just developed so late-match that they tell you she'll just stand here, block, put the shield up,
and by the time they actually start to move forward towards the Rematcher of Barrel,
SSG's got two players dead.
Yeah, they're looking pretty horrific.
I think the switch over to the Oresikia should tell you everything you need to know about space station struggles.
Hawke needs to take space away from KSG, and has not been able to do it on the Remantran.
Maybe he's hoping for a little bit more self-sufficient here, because Top Dragon has been tying the attention span of his backline up entirely.
What's the plan at the Slay? He knows he's very close to a catnap, but doesn't want to over extend into the S.
Yeah, just wanted to put a little bit of pressure up on the high ground and that is a dive there
I mean Top Dragon's sleight of it just dominating this right-hand side of the map
UV hit with a fire grenade. He's gonna have to back on up
Okay, he's been ugly. Yeah, these teams aren't even standing on even footing fundamentally back right now barrel is just dominant
And let me didn't know what you didn't I think that's a car road proud
There are all hawk hawk has been around that corner of the corner by the point waiting for his teammates the entire
They've been staggered constantly if hot dragon and sleigh have taken barrel and the hopes of Japan on to the world stage
And they have taken space station to task so far in this round. It's dominant
I don't even know if I've seen any illumination tip for space station gaming. That was
Well, I could have been email that round
Man.
I'm not even sure if it should have been an email, maybe like a Slack message or something.
Yeah, he hit me up on my page or that I don't wear anymore.
Yeah, this should be a quick one on Teams.
That is a sick apple and fire though.
Yeah, I mean, I feel for Hock.
I would love to see him sad.
I can't even imagine he died that many times.
You're just kind of waiting in the joke the entire game.
Hey, what are we doing?
Oh, yeah.
That is a personal avaral sign by the end of this game.
He just put that one down, pick another one back up.
Hawke is 0-0-0-0!
I told you, I was like, he's just kind of sitting there waiting for something to happen.
That is how I've ever seen him.
That's the number for the ambulance.
I don't think we've ever seen that.
As far as I'm concerned, just to fall around where the tank doesn't get in the lint is
to die.
It's based because he knows there's no point fighting when he's backflying, there are
intattas every time they come off spawn.
Well, he's like, alright guys, we're coming, we're running, they're like, yeah, we're setting up over here, and then they would just die, so you're just kind of waiting.
That's not good enough for the international stage, SSG.
I hope he goes for the 0-0-0 for the entire map, that would be something we've never seen.
It's literally our emergency services number.
Cool and ambulance, but not for me, save barrel.
Okay, here we go, okay, leave the loadpins up to your cat here at least, Cloud.
has been picked up by A.
Both are on essentially a descent to a controversy at the start of the round.
And Hawks over to the Diva to try and help this backline, right?
And he's so much pressure with Top Dragon in slay there.
Trying to get Nico here out of harm's way. Nice movement, but Hawks on the pursuit.
Yeah, I think it's correct here.
Hawks realizing that he cannot just ignore the Jampak-Kat plus other, you know, during this round.
He needs to go after them.
Too much is having.
Composer.
pause here now looks like a potentially an issue here this would be on the
barrel side of the stage it looked like a you know KSG's it's very close I'm
wondering if he just yeah not the cable out of his posture is we're gonna have
to catch up with him in ten years I mean that's I mean he's so hunched over
Yeah, he is. I can't be comfy. Sometimes he's like,
the cute, okay, so he unplugged his PC. So that is, uh, you know, what? He sits that close.
He's getting aggressive. He's in the, he's in the mode. And I mean, he just ripped the PC out of
the wall. That's fine, bro's, bro's locked. Um, it's not the strangest posture that I've ever seen.
I think Hanby still thanks to Kyke for that.
Yeah, that is uh...
Yeah, his teammate's there, like, yeah, he's done this a few times.
He's just so animated.
Letting you know at First of the World.
Something felt like that for SSG's, which is tournaments like this.
They're fighting to be the first North American club in the mousepad on the table as well.
Half of his mousepad is not even on the table.
Well, you probably kind of get this to a degree
because you want to simulate your setup at land
as close as you can to home,
especially on smaller desks or less space on their table.
It's also why this phenomena of the keyboards
being turned sideways are reaching out from.
Everyone had like 10 desks on their keyboards
on their keyboards, so they had to sort of move
to the main room on tables.
So it's not just a fashion choice,
it's certainly not an ergonomic one.
So SSG gets off to a good start here in round number two,
But Barrel just absolutely dominant there and round number one is...
I'd imagine we're getting a little bit closer here, getting back into things.
Yeah, I mean again, we're powered by SSDs in Zero, so normally we can boot up and get into action pretty quickly.
It is an unconventional tech pause reason, but frankly I'm more satisfied with this than people running off to bathroom without warning.
Hmm, yeah, that was a thousand interesting ones, Christopher's like, Christopher's starting to play well, man.
I love the attire. I really do think so. The SSG after could be turned into overalls, so it looks a little panicked.
They do, they do. They're the stick kit. And also the team skin, right, with obviously the Roadhog with the SSG belly, and that one's going to be numbers.
It's great, great real estate for a team old. We like that.
Right, oh I'm just away from getting back into the action, it's reminding us of the
plug is in the PC.
To catch you up with what happened in the first round, it was Top Dragon and Slay highlighting
here for Varel, the jetpack catplay from Slay, who is your Translate 1 MVP.
Well, it's too much a handle, this time though, PlayStation have the Deeper, which you can't
answer this but being told gets even busier now.
It is 26% down there by barrel at the start so not absolutely nothing there
early on as the DCK is G when he gets back to the lobby will switch over to
the diva so this is what the jetpack pack can provide Tracer I just gets it's
tough drinking all the way across the map there.
I'm sure if we tried to pressure Slay down it was nice for him Ultra Violet.
We'll intercept Jim Topdrager there might be a wrinkle in this plan as a recall though
It is forced and ultraviolet has friends and help on the way
Yeah, look like slay was trying to make it back for the rest of the teams and top dragon
He dropped some on the other side and
It's a little bit too close take some damage from sugar free then you be just gonna round to corner finish the box
So
It's a little round here in round number two
But long to try to play all nice thing. Okay, that's nice. I'm sugar free
On the Nico of all things, one of the DPS would be most lethal to Tracer, and now that Ultraviolet
is not busy playing on a paintball with Cloud, it's better to hit some pretty crucial biotics
grenades from some safely ensconced spots here.
Yeah, because they have great map control, right?
They're able to control some of the high ground as they are trying to stay.
He's pushed up.
It's there to be found here.
Eventually Ultraviolet is going to be accosted again by Top Dragon, then the stick.
That'll do it.
done both Tracers with a very important pause bomb pick-ups, but they haven't had control
of the point since that first fight, they need to get their skates on.
Orc wants to maintain his space here, but his very swift space-states are gaming, Orc
has a remake opportunity for very least, and oh ho ho ho, nooo!
Hey, ST, drag that into the open, but whoever the nano boost did actually mitigate enough
of the self-destruct damage to keep him inside these things, that is so nice from the player.
Yeah, really nice attempt though from Adler, right-train it, drag that D.va into the self-destruct,
something that we don't see that often. Top Dragon starting to get up in this
round as well. Biogranade goes in there from UV, doesn't connect with anything,
very quick. Nano not used there, they're gonna hold on with it. They get to 99, which is the
most important thing there for SSG. The Ultraman are they going for a more
attempt at play, but that certainly exposes you to punish the player. He did suffer in the
end, lethal Abel to extract himself from the point quite in time, so it'd be full
respawn and hawkers had to go for a long walk off the short-term.
Nano available here for SSG, you think, hawk or sugar-free the targets.
Barrel, dude, top-triking with the pulse bomb, right?
It was massive getting rid of UV early in the previous fight.
Even just kind of got right past the defense matrix.
In general though, this has been much, much better for Space Force.
Oh, without a doubt. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, they're awake.
Just about anything.
Yes, significantly better.
We could set the plane to game now.
So quick down there, give it over to Lethal here as he runs Cloud into the ground.
He'll take the fight against Niko quite happily.
Well, move to the top, goes Slay. He's trying to quickly leave the scene.
Top Dragon again, successful. It is a fantastic aura.
The hook is not actually attacking through the back, but yeah, Slay with a catnap.
I don't know who's caught here if there's anything to it.
And a little isolated is Lethal.
But you favor the bastion in this kind of matchup, although you must respect the cat.
He's encroaching.
Oh my goodness, up behind him, Slay able to find that.
So, although SSG gets the two player advantage early on, KSG has a self-destruct which he's able to get back in mech.
Tom Dragon with the whole spawn, he's able to get one and then Slay's still alive as well.
That is a rough...
Aw, it's gonna be brutal.
And also the artillery, they're gonna be able to kinda like hold us outside the spawn.
Let's see where they can set a user here.
That's also interesting because it puts you perfect information about the map.
Oh, they are 2v2 or an overwatch in the end.
It goes to some of the search for Ultraviolet and fight Neanna.
Not to fight back for this one if you space station game, you better start in this round, but Feral's seem to have outlasted now, Hork.
Cutting hold up in the heat, just needs to stall at the moment, but doesn't have a self-destruct for a rematch, it has to actually leave.
Nice little power healing coming in there from Adro, but Leakler's already gone down, that's the lion's share, off to a damage output.
Top Dragon's gonna make this even worse by divesting Hork off his net, and Sugarfree has much of his damage mitigated by Defense Matrix.
Here come a barrel not satisfied to simply repeat history based on up on a strong foot. It's NA's number two
You have round one very dominant from barrel
Round number two SSG battle back they get advantage there late, right? It's the nano on the lethal he finds two
And then they are able
To battle back self-destruct
Get a pulse bomb there and a catnap
You take a look at some of the highlights, it feels like Top Dragon really kind of turned
it on in the second half of round two.
Yeah, Nana giving over there.
So lethal.
Lethal actually gets snatched back.
I see the cat that was for the Bastion.
Good work for Admiral to almost avert disaster.
Slay still chasing the Bastion down and basically solo's your cat.
Jeff, I got scared with that slash perp being picked off.
It's a barrel now.
One game away, right?
Getting into our playoff here at the eSports World Cup, our mid-season championship 4,
OWCS.
It's an SSG now back against the wall here, and do we may end up in a spot where we don't
get any North American teams in the playoffs?
It would be a sign of the times where that's gonna happen.
SSG
Very early on in this series
Have been back to do a corner. I think our friend in the audience. They're trying to illustrate his desire trajectory for SSG
Stuff to choose to crowd favorites pork looked extremely
unhappy after that. But Christopher here obviously, uh, I
Have quite a veteran at this point
Someone who's been at the helm of some of the most compelling Overwatch franchises.
He's run with the Ultimates though I think had left a little bit to be desired in 2025,
but getting another crack at it here with SSG.
Yeah, I mean that just seemed like a bad situation for everybody.
Yeah, everybody's kind of gone on after that, you know, stint and seen success.
It's just, hey, they saw success before, they didn't obviously have it together,
have it together and then you know post stuff is everybody's kind of moved on I
know it had some better times but Christmas always very work it's fun
concept with him he's often often speaks to OWTV for example or other
outlets he's most very frank about the struggles that his teams go through and
he did feel like even though he was being gifted an opportunity he did you know
continue to develop though at the last name in North America he had no
their shortage of challenges to fight stop you.
Yeah, I mean, look, obviously backs against the wall here
for SSG against barrel.
Team Liquid, they are out the hands
of their North American partners, the Dallas Fuel,
but it's not over for Dallas Fuel just yet.
They will have to face Virtus.Pro to try and make it out.
Who VP obviously are number one seed for me and me.
They fall a little bit earlier in the day
that's twisted minds, but still not an opponent.
you would want to see. He's still a very strong team.
Still lethal on camera there for a moment.
Normally, he is the happy-go-lucky, the jokester of the team.
But when the rubber hits the road, he tends to lock in,
and this is an uncomfortable spot to find yourselves.
And since you would have come out here
to the mid-season championship, hoping for a pathway
into playoffs that felt manageable, felt doable.
This is one of them, I think.
However, they're uncomfortable being in a do-or-die position pretty early on in the piece.
And Newtruck City is going to be there at map selection.
It feels like they want to play some rush, right? Maybe like Ramatra. They want to get into the mix.
We'll see what the ban is here for SSG. It is going to be the Jetpack Cat's Sleigh.
Two nasty on that. The Maga gone as well, so...
I think if you are Varyl, obviously the Jetpack Cat is a big loss here.
What? You know, you played a lot of the Rematra there, you can also play the D.Va, you can just kind of match those heroes.
Top Dragon continuing to play the Tracer, you feel fine.
Yeah, you're just not going to, you know, ban that one, I want to make sure that Free wants to be in that position as well.
Let's see our partner, Skins Revealed.
Yeah.
Talked about that earlier on, and yeah, the same team pets represented there as well is great.
Some of them look apt, or they all look absolutely phenomenal, frankly.
So he said she'd buy in us all each one bundled that's good. I'll ask me for the true supply block personally
Yeah, that's right. I'm gonna come in on that
Couple up that order real quick. Yeah, sir
Ultra violet I think got a bit of a shock and that first round of Samoa
You just started fighting cloud randomly honor the honor across the map and lost hard
And you never get back into the game
without the jetpack that gone though right a lot of really nice plays they were setting
up were like sleigh and top dragon as you know gonna go on these blanks really made
them legal like difficult you know top dragon can obviously play sim sim woo young would
be an interesting one a tricest switch after the fact surely probably you just need title
last deliveries. Interesting that they're going to come out and play the
Orisa. I feel like we haven't seen many people play the Orisa if you're gonna have
this map. It's like you know we see obviously a lot of Moga when he's in
but they're even sick we see pretty prevalent on this map. I wonder what
SSG sees in this Orisa pick. It's tough. The Hawker feels like it's pretty
hard to intervene if your top dragon is going to run into their backline. The
Leni Shion though might be a nice piece of this puzzle. He's forced to make those
Get on his bike, get on out of there.
Now she just gets caught, yeah.
Oops.
I just claimed that he was going to go past her a bunch and ignore her, but then doubled back.
Yeah, and it's a nice spear that goes right into KSG, and I know it hits him on the wall,
and Sugarfree's here to put some damage down in as well.
Oh, okay.
He's there, well, sugarfree.
Better looks here for Space Station Gany.
But the second round of Samoa also looked like this, and they lost that grip as time went on.
It's a case you'll actually match the Orisa here a
Lot of poke damage with this we onion play for barrel. Yeah, we said they're normally love
Yeah
Sojourn and we don't could be powerful in some instances on some platforms up dragon as well working as late for the Paul spot
We thought how that impactful was on some mowa
Okay, she'll move up here
Taking their time moving through the choke. That's gonna be the slide out here
some lethal already.
Yeah, it doesn't get anything, but it's gonna be Slay coming in though with an extra damage.
And that's just the intangibles you can't always count on.
Bringing your wugung player into your game and having them be able to get those first fixes.
Yeah, pretty magical if you can play off of it.
Even if it did go down.
Or Gavilan's gonna try and cut forward those.
A blip from Barrel that already had a curve.
And Ultima is gonna go to the backline of Barrel hasn't really generated their ultimates yet.
Or why is he identifying a window which KSG is very much alone?
I mean, with that Katsune rush right when you're playing SSG inside of it, you can be a little bit more aggressive.
SKSG was already about half HP at that moment in time. Hawke moves on up. They feel like there's a target here.
They can maybe try and stagger out to deny them from touching the point on the opposite side.
It looks like it's going to be 0.1 here on Newtrun City going to SSG.
It'll be Niko now going over and playing Supraia. So we've seen more and more Freya throughout this event.
Can constantly put some pressure down onto the Orisa, right?
Obviously a Bokkian or mid-season patch to Freya for the primary fire.
So you're just gonna get a little bit more consistent damage output.
Yeah, like you don't lose out on poke, but you also give yourself...
Look at that vertical mobility that's quite potent against flankers.
Niko hopes you can glide away from sugar-free pretty consistently.
Especially if there's a spree at the ready.
Top Dragon, when he's waiting for the backfire, but it's going to be a sound, they're in out of space station,
maybe Sleigh might have to deal with Admiral here, but he gives a good account of himself.
Top Dragon back to the point, KSG is low, but Admiral has a drop, title blast, knocked out,
could be big here, and Sugarfree falls by the wayside.
A pole stick there would have been massive, but now Top Dragon's still going to have to go after leaving the old fashioned way,
but there's plenty of bullets in the pulse pistols to get the job done.
Yes, the point has not been taken yet either here by SSG, so they get off to a good start getting rid of KSG on the other side, but
Now it's gonna be barrel battling back into this fight both teams gonna be very close to full strain. You're just missing UV here
That was gonna back out not gonna decide to fight this without that fury
It also looked like Hawks look a ton of poke damage trying to walk up there
At that point SSG's different like going for it again. Lucio shooting back twice, Hanoway's humiliate those
Wow, that's a huge tank. I mean, out of nowhere.
Walked out to find a Javelin connection on Top Dragon, and now means the PlayStation is backfiring.
It's kind of chilly. It really gives him a lot of flexibility.
It means like Ultra Violet, Admiral can actually go to the small address he plays, the Terrasurge,
the PSG, and you've bought a bit of time. That's about it.
I'll cheer for Top Dragon, so they'll keep this one rolling for just a brief period of time.
I have not loved the Orisa here from Varyl.
It seems like obviously SSG has piloted this comp.
A decent amount.
There will be more changes for Varyl as it will be
Top Dragon going over and matching the Shea on here.
All of the Sugar Breed.
Feels like KSG, this main IV is kind of a comfort zone here playing the Orisa.
And seeing how the first map went, I think that Hope trying to put himself in a position to win his tank matchup
is going to be a victory for Spacestation Gaming.
Okay, so I don't care how much he has to switch in order to try and find an edge there.
You're going to have to be around with the bullet shots.
And his disposal.
Very wide angle of play here, but he connects on these explosive bolts!
Ultramarature, had a Suzu there, so no 100 foul for space station gaming.
And the Suzu rush is going to be deployed, it's going to reduce that Suzu cooldown as well,
but also the H-Cup for the rest of the team is pretty important.
We're out of last. Where we going with this one?
Niko runs all down.
Okay, there's the pick on the Orisa.
That means KSG's got a bit of room to breathe.
The SSG red 92% and counting now.
Niko and Top Dragon are gone.
Yeah, KSG though still on the point.
You have Slay coming in here as well.
Cloud alive too.
What?
SSG with two both supports rounds the corner.
Letting him win that 1v1 big time.
Yeah, he's got that execute.
Nice.
Huge two all here in favor of SSG.
ASG
Varyl had just not had the answer for this comp
ASG vs. Geography for the Flashpoint
the former
now that he was here was alive though
You see how big the Jetpack cap ban is
for Varyl
right now having a sleigh
being able to kind of work those flanks with Top Dragon
allows UD and Admiral to breathe
If it's a tire or a leaf, they're not under so much pressure.
It's leveled the playing field.
There's been a couple of windows in which the title blast has been quite effective,
but none of the really outright one team fights like Jetpack now has been able to.
Beat for Admiral.
No, like, yeah.
Again, no ultimate to really match Beech on the side of Barrel.
Consideration is okay, but again,
he needs to be able to get that healing output of Slayz just found here on his own,
but it's gonna be a spree from Topfrager.
More! And that came from! I broke it a little bit too close to the blender!
Oh, hooks off the map. I think we learned the spot was probably over this.
Where's this G? We're only gonna get a third of that last flashpoint.
Yeah, Leafle on a flank there. They actually see Slay. They kind of catch Slay out, right?
I mean, they put a few shots into him, and then they push up.
They just don't probably expect TopDragon to be sitting on top of him there, getting ready to spree.
Any really fault SSG for that is they're still in a great spot.
Meryl ended up taking the lead, but SSG 5-0 for the tier to work with,
and Meryl is down a support there as Slay, without that jetpacked hand mobility on the Wuyang,
much easier to pick out.
Oh, it leaves a lot of capacity as well, really does feel like PB and J4.
Space station gaming man, he is depth-standing on this pig, it hawked down.
Handles Niko, captivating, Terrasurge pursues the durability, KC's gonna respond, they look pretty charged, one but all has the beat from Admiral.
Very well apportioned for a situation like this and no analog to that on Barrel's side, it's Spice Station back in control.
Yeah, and Sly all the way back, trying to make a play towards the end of that fight, maybe seeing if he can get back there, kinda contribute to his team.
Ends up just getting staggered out so the up off the respawn now tracer and sojourn back here for Varl
No changes in the support line. No changes in terms of KSG in a while. It feels like they kind of need to match
You know the Orisa at least and then slay obviously playing a different brand of overwatch here on the wheel
The last fight for Varl and need to find some edge now
Now, on Space Station Gaming, who is sitting on this Kitsune Russian, ready to roll with the first to the dead eye though.
Presentry's exchanged with no time to spare for Barrel, they've got to get a touch in a moment, Kitsune rush down for Ultra Violet,
legal free to run here on this low ground, concerned about a flank potential with their slay,
Fully Hook, another champion set up for an elimination.
Fancy on the point, get the Suzushi, the Screech for Sugarfree, levels, Barrel.
dominant stuff here for space station gaming more than just a recovery it's a
statement in that too. You get no use of that title blast there from Slay
towards the end just goes for nothing. The SSG just dominates barrel there in
map number two you really see without the jetpack cap in the mix right Slay
trying to take these off angles trying to find some damage much easier to deal
when you can just gonna use that always always in the skybox movement of jetpack that to get away
much easier to check down on the wheel
The Orissa mirror okay, she definitely didn't look comfortable
But this is SSG trying to gain the system to favor them the jetpack that ban a selection of new junk city
The rubble with losing control though means the decided map
The way the bands go will fall to a barrel
to take priority on. Yeah and I mean look you won't have to deal with the cat
being gone that'll be back in play so not worried about that whatsoever. Definitely
feels like that we're targeting you know top dragon's been good on the tracer so
most likely not gonna be targeting you want to target the she on right you
want to get your free you're gonna target the Orisa right. I don't know if you
you want to see that at the PSG.
I think depending on the map, right?
It allows Hawk to be a little bit more proactive
in actually taking things with his own hands.
He doesn't just make space,
he doesn't just stand there and provide his own
for his DPS to operate,
he sets up eliminations with these javelins,
sometimes sees a window to push into a backline himself
and I get the job done.
Pressure is on though.
He's got a map, that's fine.
I mean, again, it's about how you recover
from a rough start in a series, just this format doesn't really lend itself to
comeback victories, sweeps necessarily because of how map selection works.
And I mean, just a massive map for North American Overwatch, then
I know also Japan, right? It's been kind of surging as I know a really, uh, an awesome spot for
Overwatch, just the game and e-sports, obviously. Varo one of the fan favorites from that region.
now wants to get into a playoff in the worst way and it's so interesting for
them because where SSG come from a region that has been forging them and
reciprocally then the rest of the region into contenders, Farrell doesn't really
have that level of opposition at home. They dominated the Japan stage 2, they
dominated the final, it was a sweep, they've had to look further afield to
find scrim opponents. Fortunately geographically they're close enough
China South Korea to get those kinds of scrims, but they can't level up simply by playing within their own region
They don't have that luxury the space station. But Shembali
Is the map selection really good?
Yo cap fashion that right you see no, I know also just that being pretty effective here as well
Hey, it'll be Cassidy the band here. You are baby
I mean, Ana! Ana there, okay.
So this denies you one of the options for dealing with JetBadCat?
Just because Ana is, you know, pretty uncomfortable to run into a sideline to this cat that can take like 70 or something,
we thought you'd play a ton of the Ana though early on.
I mean, is he feeling bested by Cloud?
Enough to want to ban it!
I don't know. I mean, I think it's probably...
You know, maybe you feel like the cat is not as effective if there is the puree in the mix, right?
Cassidy is a great response to Bastion, right?
Uh...
Maybe there's like a, you know, like obviously we've seen UV play like Baptiste in the past, right?
Maybe you feel like if you're gonna play like a SIG or a D.Va, you can play the BAP with it or even a MAGA, you can play the BAP with it, so...
Now we see Stoney faces on the stage, but make no mistake, Farrill's road so far has been wrapped in emotion.
The fans, how much it means to see their region represented at this level, to advance even further into the tournament will be something else than for the players.
Just a vindication, the gratification of fighting success here against a team in Space Station who are a proven contender.
It all comes down to shambali monastery folks with jetpack cat available in Anna band out
Slay has been so good on the cat
The barrel on offense here to kick things off actually on defense so we'll get that one sorted the top screen
Yeah, be carry with the cat fashion the mix top dragon not gonna play trace are gonna play the she on here on D
space station or are they gonna have to beat this or join this jet-pack-pack combination.
So there are two ways about it.
Niko's just gonna hide around the corner, gonna deny them a look at what he is playing,
seeing the top drain.
Niko, ASG, Cloud, five years as competitors in obscurity for the most part.
There are opportunities to play on the world stage you
Father tween
I'm for a region defining results barrel have any say in the matter now
the Orisa
Obviously was really good against the rematcher
Can the Orisa withstand the damage output of Bastion?
He's gonna require
Yeah, but I'm like you've called out on both sides. Yeah, I need to realize this
Park is gonna take anything. He realizes that he's not the reason not to the level
Okay, now go in state, okay
All for all and last point oriented than the sigma option would have been
But some point you see space station gaming day will need
Don't need to start this up. They'll need to be the instigators here
KSG is waiting down for the big islander to appear, there's the stop from Torch coming on in, but Sugarfree is actually blowing through the rings before the fucking truity begins and that's devastating!
Got to the low ground now and there was just form protecting KSG to some degree.
They do get to my ground here for SSG.
We're gonna have Sugarfree coming on the spawn here as well, it's gonna be quite awkward for KSG.
Where's he gonna go?
Oh, he's just got nowhere to be. Can make you catch the alive. He's so deep in enemy territory, but yes, somehow he's still standing.
Slay, no, to go down first means to pick me up KSG.
His elementary.
They grab, they take high ground, they do end up losing sugar for you, but quick swap to Tracer gets right back into the mix.
And you just put KSG in such a weird spot. Doesn't have that survivability once thems is formed. No shield is available.
He'll start. Now, switching over to the Maga here.
The Estes often wanted to mirror Hawk.
But didn't we work out for didn't look as great on Fearus? How's his Maga gonna be?
Think I might be getting over the top here.
No grenade thrown out.
Should the priest spot it to hold in dodging?
Will he force the maybe more passive of the time being?
Stop, come on in, he goes in the thick of things here!
Cardiac overdrive, by the mean of account for the vasting and burst damage
Ultraviolet's found by Slay, so a trade of jetpack cats as Cloud gets rid of Admiral.
Juga3 here, Philly, but I'm comfortable.
Because he doesn't even want to replay around, it's gonna have to be solo,
it's gonna have to be a big post-op here in these close quarter environs,
but Nibbik gets a chance to deploy it.
Not the worst though for SSG.
That's Cloud that ends up using it, gets Unibrush a little bit later towards the end of that fight,
when they had like a 3 on 3, 3v2 scenario, so...
It would have been a huge ultimate moving forward.
There's a lot of ultimate super spice there.
and obviously all of them.
It takes one good chat mapping though to unravel this.
Leave him go to go for an ult of his own,
just to see if he can go dust stochin' for someone who's thought all of these to pick up sleigh.
He's got someone ult'ed by the pick-up Suzes himself,
and eventually KSG turns around to address the Kiri,
but ult'ed by them to get away and drop down the Katsune right now.
Horde was the push-up seed. KSG a little bit low.
KSG will be waiting for him. The Bastion seems like a great catch.
I don't know KSG if he's gonna get away with this.
Of course he is unstoppable, and wasn't tended initially.
Devon walks through the cage, now pushing up, top dragon down,
postbox throw to the top corner, didn't find a result,
it's legal, starts to cut a bloody swath through them.
An absolute must win fight there for SSG.
They have all five ultimates, they decide to kind of
spend them all, it's a nice Uju here,
kind of protects the legal right at the start.
The stun comes out on top of them.
Just gonna keep on firing on that Bastion, trust that the rest of the team is gonna keep him up straight.
Reaper now for both sides to answer this Moga.
Thanks for sitting on the cage, guys.
At least we got a top of ultimate.
Yeah, back to backpipes.
Yep.
Now wait to start things off, but tough to pin this old hop down. Hard to find a lead to kill there.
It's like you're on fire or something.
Another E to KSG too.
Happy Grapple, who's the target's supposed to be. He's taken someone out of the fight, but now he needs to get there and help Horde.
Major always eventually dealt with Horde, had him pinned at the corner of the top dragon, now at the side of him he wants to answer the Malga threat with a chance of picking the Reaper.
They don't log, obviously very difficult to deal with while inside of the Kitsune rush.
Reaper, probably even tougher. Nice catnap there, gonna actually grab Sugar Free away, and then gonna just alert Leeson, go there, slay on the offensive.
This is why you won the Jetpack Cat Fan.
When you play against Varyl, so nasty on this hero.
Nice cat-nap then goes on through, takes out two players.
Yeah, sugar-feed really depends on being within striking distance of a lot of his front liners,
where he's sustained and also just a... do his job.
Varyl's already out of there, he's up.
Almost two minutes here.
At this part of the map.
One minute forty remains.
First thing Bank of Ultimates for Space Station Gaming is building and I have a chance to use
Ultimates before the game is over.
Stop early, spot for the rush, got to be a cage type outflowed on in the Death Blossom
there.
Go from top drag and just cut short.
Sugarfree has dealt with him and Space Station Gaming can take a bunch of Ultimates into the
next fight which is going to be the last for this stage of the map if it's an SSG win.
Yeah, and you don't get anything with your cage or death blossom. KSG just dropped instantly there by Hawke.
Artillery here, gonna try and buy some time.
Or Varyl, gonna get out and get a touch. It feels like they need a miracle in this fight.
I tried here, Trashly, so we don't know what you're looking at the map right now. There's Juggerbrot with two!
Slaidnikov picked up here in case he's got no reason not to try and dive the backline.
That's Varel taking down an SSG as we almost
Intuitive with all of those ultimate table just to steamroll
Yeah, I mean Varel would have needed a miracle to win that fight and it did not happen
It's a SSG. This will be tough though, right?
You've now kind of, you know, you have nothing to work with here
You're kind of just dumped all your ultimates in
A minute fifty-five
You might be looking at a fighter super SSG that
that, you know, are quite rough, you know, with obviously Varyl having an advantage, but
then, you know, squads are over time, maybe 20, 30 seconds, that's when SSG can make a
run. Still kind of works, man. And I wouldn't say there's no need to hurry, but I actually
still have to quite hit that fever pitch, yes. Cloud and Slay can have both used his
It's now space station. You probably have it just to let this play out. It's just drawn up
Yeah, I mean look you're you don't have anything to work with may have the kids you neighbor. I should just kind of fall over your mug
There's no reason just kind of keep throwing bodies into the meat grinder there and just give them more all charges
Miko
Susan was gonna be met though
And they can't quite get to a lethal in time.
That damnit has not paid off the barrel.
I love the pluckiness to go, so that kind of play.
Can they follow it up now with this dive into the front line?
Yes, it's KSG in top dragon.
We do achieve results, but eventually we'll
be shut down by space-facing gaming.
Yes, it's a truncated roster that's on the cart.
But still, progress is being made in 40-second left.
Yeah, that flank for a barrel felt slightly unnecessary,
right, especially where they were at the moment
in terms of ultimate economy.
They've also allowed SSG to farm up these support ultimates. It'll be an artillery here.
Only Rakewalk forced out a top dragon. It could be massive.
KSG can't fight. He's taking too much poke damage to top dragon.
He's got nowhere to go!
Not only Rakewalk forced his huge ultimator presses down. Right where it hurts!
Now! H5 here for Hork. This could end the game now.
But Super Free did get taken down on the periphery.
Can't nothing though. Info-Admiral is trying to get him with some shielding at least again.
That'll be enough.
Oh boy. KSG eventually is felled.
SSG finished with time to spare.
I believe they finished like two or three seconds left on the clock, so...
massive for SSG.
Felt like that's her barrel, maybe their aggression kind of bit them a little bit there, right?
They kind of played so aggressive towards the end, up that map where...
No, they were doing a nice job just kind of playing the clock.
Nico and Slay going on one of those kind of ranks that Varel loves to do and they just get hit hard one by one.
I mean it's gameplay that oozes personality, right?
The space station are a pretty stable roster, they've got the capacity in a pinch to adapt to that kind of thing, to respond, make the right choice.
They end up winning that previous fight with two players, they get a bunch of extra progress and then they cycle back into their bank of ultimates.
I'm able to close things out. Still very competitive stuff.
8 deaths for Niko though. That's like kind of like a jump shot at me right off the rip.
That is really high from your hitscan. He's getting a decent amount of support right, you know, Slay?
Kind of escorting him around the map on the Bastion as well.
I mean, look at like lethal, right? Almost 12k damage, like 11,200.
I think Niko off the top of my head was around like 8k plus 8 deaths.
It's not a great first half for Nico and Barrel, but still obviously in this game.
Let's see how this Reaper plays into the Ziva Con.
Superhero might have been expecting a Malgros to be similar, but Barrel just want the flexibility.
Okay, we are switching back to the Malgros.
Please, sugar bron, I'm sure.
A lot of other factors though, you have to consider, and already some defensive points are underway.
He's peeking up.
Beautiful crowding.
Wheels mode.
Hands off pretty quickly, though.
It's how I get a disengage up onto the stairwell
and use that Susan to pad their retreat.
It's a good spot for a barrel, though, right?
You're going to force SSG off of this high ground
to play from that offensive side.
This is how SSG broke it open on their offense, this first point.
It's a bit of a sharp sight line for the Bastion up
with that high ground there.
I don't know how long this is going to be.
Yeah, he can't stay there forever.
This time it's the Jetpack tacticarian forward.
If they're looking at targets that are more satisfied to shoot than the Malga,
RAPMETI, his face-tation disengaged by nicely announced their turn to wager something.
Oh, they've gotten their side of the map in high ground packs, so
both teams just kind of rotating around each other, just trying for this high ground instead of a destroyer.
And I think if you're SSG, you're more than happy to play these games.
To get locked in a stalemate here as the defender is AOK.
Quadraget also is brought to heal, but KSG.
Seven reciprocate Hawks efforts and deal with Weakle.
Richard trying to see it.
Tancy trying to really take it plain to a disposition and now we have a Malga caught by Slade.
And Hawke is held a lot so Cloud can pick him up to see the rush easy
in action here at the Space Station.
Jamie, but without the frontline attack this could be a tough ask.
There's Admiral getting out there just kind of contesting for a brief second.
I think Varel set up pretty well here in the train.
cage spring
For this next fight UV obviously uses a rush so you don't have that available
Artillery use here
That's a knock down there on the sugar free and then the artillery follows it up
Yeah, really hard to set up any kills off the bassin ultimate
But that is beautifully put together by KSG and it's a walk over flight wind
Wonder they're looking keep both DPS ults
There isn't like a solid portal to answer the spree here, so Top Dragon might have a voice just to push this through.
Especially if you can kind of catch it, it's actually just kind of coming out on the high ground here.
Not a good stop, not a good take, and here comes Top Dragon to make it even worse!
Boy, that was over almost before it began.
He just been found though, and what? He's stalling on the cart, he's also sitting on a cage like.
He's just taking too much damage, and it's really wanted to top him back up.
It's just sugar-free here that he'll get cleaned up.
Pretty good offense.
Poor Barrel thus far, can't nap available for them on offense, they do end up investing
pretty heavy and getting aggressive.
I expect SSG to bounce back here in a big way near me, that cage plus Blossom, sugar-free
and Hawke have been great at combining.
And they're tanking DPS role constantly. They see the hook and the slide going through.
Varyl...
...Hotline Japan now chasing the victory though.
Changed the way the world sees him. A dead blotter for sugar-free though is cut short by KSG.
But lethal had already gotten his job done.
Now some more clock bleed. Also the cart sliding down that ootline.
This could be a sticky part of the map to try and break through.
And Varyl don't have any silver bullets.
And it's starting to get really good for SSG right because ultraviolet's going to be able to kind of match this Consude a harsh you to match it
Coming up here soon
KsG goes in that's gonna be cardiac overdrive. There's gonna be the case by he's gonna be in a lot of trouble
Slay actually uses the catnap during this as well
I know potentially even gets caught inside the cage so that goes for nothing
So I really like this for SSG similar to how we see teams unlike circle Royal push up
Maybe you can play that low ground, you can do that here.
It feels like one of the scenarios where Slade by otherwise
and me advised to just hold on to this ultimate.
Don't you have any place here?
Oh man, solo my staff from KSG early.
How are you going to heal through that? You just don't.
We're getting some catches though. Chiric home?
With this ultimate and barrel in a very awkward position
trying to play on the clip side.
I mean, Cloud had to end up using the TP to get to KSG
and using the Suzu just to get the Mardar.
And then also here's the artillery coming from directly above.
What are you planning, sir?
But you're like, great at role to get a catnap, bring one player in, and then we have another fight, probably 30 seconds off the clock and nothing happens.
He's not here.
Like, Suzu there from Cloud, those in Eco doesn't get disrupted whatsoever, and Sugafree's not in a position to meaningfully contribute.
So what's the most for nothing?
Another Suzu down.
These have been so well timed.
Cloud, obviously, with the cooldown reduction, is able just to dole those out.
I think this is like ultimately okay though as uh you know sugar free
it's gonna get staggered out here towards the end and you're gonna get another you're gonna get
another fight right slide field is cutting out twice while that rule was so yeah that's true
I mean all sleigh is just a different piece right on the cat just so much healing and damage output
you'll have the depth blossom to break the cage with ASG
Oh, and they do it. Nice job getting rid of Shooter pre-installing.
Oh, Dragon dropping in. That is big Pharrell. They still keep their hopes alive now.
SSG always willing to accept that this question is a better part of our half-bottom disengaged
away from this, but can they get back in time?
Lethal, trying to set something up with that ultimate, but it's a disengage from Pharrell.
They do not want a part of it.
What are they doing?
They're giving up so much space, man.
Well, they're not just pushing that through, they have the numbers still.
Very, very safe play, but I wonder if they let a golden opportunity to go faking just now.
They're gonna play around Top Dragon.
Deathboss, I'm gonna throw it in instantly.
Ultra Violet is down.
The stun comes in, though, and Top Dragon is knocked out of the game.
Hawks have to find two massive eliminations, and Sugarfree tends to the card.
Still there's fighting to be done.
Chance it for KSG.
Admiral being hunted by Slaver, he can't finish the job.
With Nico falling, Slade's gonna go back.
But it's only 10 seconds left.
And it feels like Barrel, just kind of disengaging from that previous fight, just playing way too passive at that moment, may have just left SSG take this one.
at the start of this fight. No Malga, no problem for space station gaming. They'll run it on down,
and Slay has been felled. Staying in orbit, SSG preserved their rights to reach for the stars.
SSG seems so relieved they get it done here in our third and final map of this decider.
Sugabree really turned up when Mida thought Hawke played a really great series as well.
The Moga really gonna turn the tide and obviously just another brushing loss
for Varel, the team still in high spirits.
I mean another one that will sting at the international level for a while.
The same trajectory they experienced last year,
are ultimately being knocked out by North America's number two seed. It's not
flashing for Hawke, but it doesn't have to be. He's an academic. When it comes to
those tank matchups, he makes sure he's always put in a position to succeed.
Marisa, Mauga, no problem. He is Starwart, an ultra consistent. So the story, the
Japanese region comes to an end. Top Dragon and Slay, not quite able with their
name in lights this time around and head over to the stage here and here from
ultraviolet. SSG are in the quarterfinals here at the eSports World Cup and I'm
standing by with ultraviolet. Just off camera there I said how you feeling you
went? Stressful. I mean look we talk a lot about elimination matches, backs against
the wall. After map one your back really was against the wall. How was the
mentality in your team at that point? I think they definitely caught us off guard
of the carry band. Um we weren't
really expecting that. We
watched their wads. We thought
they'd do on Shambali, but after
that map, like we said, like
calm down guys, it's their
strongest band. We know they're
playing like the rest of these
matchups, and I think we did
that. Yeah, absolutely. And you
had to really pull it together
after yesterday's defeat to
Crazy Raccoon. How are you
feeling collectively after that
loss? And did it take a lot, I
guess, to pick yourselves back up
and come into today? I wouldn't
say so. I think Crazy Raccoon
are probably the strongest team
in this tournament. Maybe top
two to top three, something like
top three something like that. So I think it was definitely like disappointing. Like
they're definitely fights and maps like that we could have and should have won. But I think
that there are definitely a lot of like bright spots and like things we learned from that
game. Yeah, I mean, you've shown flashes of brilliance throughout the last few days here
in Paris. As you can see behind us, the key crusher is is being revealed. Have you ever
crushed a key before? Would you like to? That'd be awesome. Let's go do it. All right, ultra
to give props to Japan's
champions. They came to Paris
having already broken barriers.
They showed moments where it
could all come together. Very
impressive run. But barrels mid
season championship.
But Varrals mid-season championship comes to an end thanks to SSG.
Huge props to Varrals, what a run they've put together, but it's SSG that live on here.
Do you know what? I get a real feeling that there's a lot of belief in your team when I'm watching you all together.
you can keep pushing forward
or you play in this one series
at a time? Definitely one
series at a time. I think we
are very disappointed if our
champions class performance. So
every series we win every map
we win. We best game so much
confidence, and I think that's
going to keep us going forward
and just finally from me any
message to your fans here who
traveled across the world and
also to your fans watching at
home right now means a lot for
supporting us. Thank you. Thank
you very much. Best of luck in
the rest of the tournament.
Another key is crushed. We keep
Moving! Malky's will get smashed as the day goes on.
Thank you Lord Chambers and congratulations to that man. Jake I don't know if the word is sadist
or a masterkiss but I feel like you got to be both to be a support in this meta.
All too violent doing work here and it was all smiles as he gets to smash the key.
Yeah it's a big moment for SSG you know that series got scary after they dropped map one
It's certainly not a situation since you want to find themselves in after a relatively lackluster performance
Of course in the champions glass, but they get this win done and in the fashion that they did
I think that will instills in common is today we can dig ourselves out of this hole
Yeah, I think what really turned things around on that second map was Hawk Hawk stepped it up tremendously
Also think sugar free really turned it up on that second map
So it's great to see them not getting rattled after I mean, let's be real that first round on control
That was abysmal that was rough like that was the weirdest stock card at the end of it
I have ever seen like I don't think we've ever seen anything like that on an international stage on the other side for vero
We have to say goodbye to top dragon and of course my favorite jetpack cat sleigh was dominant
Looking so good charging up the alts
Admiral didn't even have to use his and they still in that game three Jake talk to me about the finish
What do you see from SSG?
You know, I think Hawk for me was the crucial player, right?
Like his stomps finding critical kills like, you know, at one point looks like they're maybe they're gonna cap second and have
A chance there on the final map and hawk is able to get that key pick up on PSG
Punishing the tank and without the maga you're in real trouble. I feel like hawk really did gap up here in the tank matchup
Yeah, couldn't agree more. I think overall SSG was obviously their heavy favorite, but still I want to give kudos to vero
I think they stayed in the competition for longer than they usually did at facing up against the international competition
While history did repeat itself. I still think they have a lot
At the end of the day, it's SSG moving forward and what does that mean?
Well in the club championship
They are guaranteed more points than liquid is earned through the first five weeks and Jake
This is only the first game there participating in two of the 25 titles at EWC
Overwatch and Rocket League, they could score in both.
I mean, they'll need to score pretty well in both,
if they wanna put up some real numbers
in the club championship.
I think for Overwatch,
I'd still call them a bit of a long shot team,
but to make it into the top eight,
you hear it from Ultraviolet, right?
Just like with every series they win,
with each map they play,
they can build up towards something.
And hey, you never know what kind of draw you're gonna find.
Maybe you could make it even deeper into a top four slot.
Now, Zoey, where do you feel that this SSG team
could match up well?
We're gonna be doing a draw show later
And they are going to be at number two seed, I assume,
with teams like Waybok pulling at the number one seed.
Honestly, I don't think there's any easy matchups left
for any of these teams.
I think, especially because we do see a lot of differences
when it comes to, you know, their comfort picks,
their comfort compositions.
I feel like what we've seen from Sushi has been pretty,
I don't want to call it vanilla,
but it has been pretty just like straightforward
current meta.
So, Davi had to surprise another team.
Do you want to play a Korean team
do you want to play?
No.
Crystal Fines or?
No, also no.
You're maybe going to be here.
I don't want any of this.
You're probably what you'd feel most comfortable with,
or you want to play a Dallas Fuel, right?
Because that's a familiar phone.
We've got a lot of tough opponents making their way
into the bracket and we still have another game on the day.
Jake, final thoughts on this one before we go to a quick tepo.
It's good to see SSG clutch up.
And for Verrill, although it's nice to congratulate them
on the map win. Is this going to sting right? This is a team that has started to reach their
head into these higher level competitions and aspire to these international successes.
And they've yet to find it. Won't find it this time in Paris. So fans are going to be
left waiting for more next time we see them in a professional tournament over 70 million
dollars on the line here at EWC and overlashes this one of many titles right now. We have
the next round. We're going to
continue with a live update
from MLB. Heartbreak over here
for Falcons as they have just
lost their elimination match.
Chris What's going on around
MLB because this was not what
was expected. I mean, it was an
elite game to be honest with
you. Falcons went to the zero
to be honest with you map number one was one they maybe thought they could have done better
in map number two they were looking pretty good to be honest with you kind of fumbled
that one that's the one that probably looked back on and say well could we have won this
three the one because then they go back to back for the force to map number five and
then of course losing out to their opposition in yango and galactic goes an incredible performance
from them really represent their region as well let's see how it's going to go for them
but yeah falcons crashing out in a top four placement yes okay they'll play that their
the top four for them. And it's
a terrible result when it comes
down to MLBB for them. They
probably weren't expected to go
on to win this, but they were
expected to do well. Top four
is not bad. Yeah, it's hard
break for them, but it's just
incredible to see that the games
were so close. I personally
almost believed in that reverse
sweep. Didn't happen, though,
but that's all from us for now.
We'll keep you in the loop.
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going, I'm going.
K, between.
Maga, TNM, Maga, MGA, MGA, MGA, MGA, MGA, MGA, MGA, MGA.
Come on, K, come on, come on.
Let's go.
Take care, G.
Get one, get one.
Come here, help me in mid?
Yeah.
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Three, three, three, three, three.
Nice job.
Oh my god.
OK.
I
Play is in our DNA, whenever we let it out, it becomes our superpower.
Now imagine an entire city being built to superchargers.
Kadea City powered by play.
Hello everybody, I am back here.
Yes, it's time for another pick-up.
We're doing the pick-ups for the final two games of the day,
starting off with the Virtus.Pro versus Dallas Fuel.
Guys, who do you think's gonna win?
Two-one, two-zero.
What are your thoughts?
I think it's Virtus.Pro, two-one.
Big, big Virtus.pro fan.
Yeah, yeah.
It's EMEA, so...
Esport EMEA, yeah.
Virtus.pro winning 2-0, how about you?
Yeah, I think that...
Virtus.pro 2-0, uh...
2, because EMEA first.
EMEA first!
You know what, I'm pretty sure in the beginning of the day,
I said, uh, VP's gonna win.
But since they're going VP, I'm gonna go the other route.
I believe in NA, Dallas Fuel, you got this.
I'm gonna go for Dallas Fuel 2-0.
Alright, second one. Last final match of the day. GKE Sports vs JD Gaming. What are your thoughts?
I think it's going to be a close match, but I think GKE Gaming can do it. They can win 2-1.
I want to think different, so I will say JD Gaming.
Okay, alright. JD Gaming winning 2-1?
2-1.
2-1. Lock that into your phone. Lock that into your phone. Okay, we got one GKE, one JD Gaming.
I think I said GK as well. I don't remember guys. It's been a long day. I think I'm gonna change it
I think I'm gonna go for JD gaming
To one against GK. All right. Thank you guys so much. Enjoy the games and also guys
You guys can have more fun on the EWC app join in the fun
What are you guys doing?
Yeah, they're back!
It's the man who fell a little bit short earlier today, but he was joined us in the
Winter Circle last night.
Can they fight another win?
Well, that's powered through the Dallas Fuel.
Dallas Fuel representing NA on the other side.
Where's Virtus Pro at right now on the global scale, Johnny?
Look, Virtus.pro, it was a good loss pocket.
They found out that the Domino maybe wasn't the best option here on the international stage.
So yes, you take the loss here, but I still have very much faith in them.
Jake, we saw Virtus.pro, of course, playing against Dallas Fuel in the past.
This time around, we got some new rosters.
If you're looking at their stats here at EWC, what have you seen from the two squads?
I mean, you've got to come in and expect Virtus.pro to be the favorite.
If only because of the region they represent.
And EMEA looks like a drastically stronger region overall.
And NA hasn't really been able to find much success.
Like SSG squeaking out this win over Veros.
One of their better results in the tournament,
which isn't saying much.
VP qualifies the top squad over Twisted Minds, right?
Over DK, teams that have looked pretty phenomenal.
So yes, they take a tough loss here, two Twisted Minds,
but this is Twisted Minds on LAN.
I won't count that too much against them.
Johnny, I saw a Reinhardt this morning,
and he was doing work against the Symmetra comps.
Did you see enough here for Virtus Pro to give you faith in their next matchup?
Because Twisted Minds look like they had their number.
This is an entirely different matchup.
Like Jake kind of said, they face Twisted Minds on the Symmetra.
This time around, they're facing Dallas Kjul, who always want the upper hand when it comes to the compositions.
They want to lean into the individual skill.
We're going to see a lot of fast tempo here.
The chasers come out, the she-on come out.
Callon is going to play fast-paced dive heroes in this one.
So not at all the same matchup.
Virtus.pro, I think they're quite happy to echo that, to mirror that, and just play like whack-a-mole when it comes to the composition.
This could be the most unpredictable matchup when it comes to compositions today.
You mentioned Dallas Fuel has a man named Kellan who is ready to up the tempo.
We caught up with him before the match. Here's what he had to say.
Everybody, I'm joined here by...name please.
Kellan.
From what team?
Kellan Spear.
Alright, Kellan, you guys are going up against VP. I just want to know,
Did you actually want VP to be your opponent today, or did you actually want to twist the mind?
We actually really wanted to face VP, just because in scrims we had better results when we were facing off against VP, so it actually really worked out.
Alright, you guys are up, it's almost time for you guys to go up to the stage and facing VP.
How confident are you feeling right now?
Definitely, in our warm-up scrim, we did fantastic.
And so because of that, I am feeling very confident and everyone on our team is actually feeling very confident.
So I feel like we will be able to bring good results on stage.
Kellen, thank you so much for the interview.
Fighting!
After slipping up early into tournament, Dallas feel able to walk away with a victory.
Let's take a look at some of their highlights.
And if you're going to look for some big players, we heard from Kellen.
Jake, who else is on this roster that you got eyes on?
I think the supports are going to be crucial in this matchup.
CJ Lugmino for Dallas Fuel going up against the opposition here, but landing and fix are incredibly stable supports in the backline
And so this traditional Dallas Fuel strategy of putting a lot of pressure on playing these fast five heroes
It's gonna come up against I think one of the best backlines in the game at just
Rebuke that kind of aggression. I also have to give a shout out to Sunjern
He was fantastic against Falcons even though they lost and he viffed yesterday against liquid
Sergent here is an amazing player and if Talos Fuel are to win today, he needs to come up with some huge performances on the Tracer.
Yeah, I was gonna say, is the double hits game gonna be the best look for the Fuel right now? Do you want to see the Tracer?
It has to be the Tracer, I think, come out here, Jake, because they kinda want to play around Virtus.pro.
I don't think they want to take the head-to-head as much when it comes to playing up close.
They want to circumvent Virtus.pro, so that is a strategic matchup that you might want to look out for in this series.
Jake, we got 50 seconds and 89% of the fans are leaning towards Virtus Pro here in the first two.
Where are you leaning?
I've also got to lean VP. I think their mastery of the Symmetra comp, you know, the fact that they don't even ban it against Twisted Minds,
they were willing to take the mirror is a testament to their confidence and the style.
I think that's going to be an issue for Dallas Fuel. I think EMEA is way better at S.I.M. and it presents real problems to the Dallas Fuel strategy.
You're riding with EMEA on this one, Johnny.
Yeah, you got to ride with Virtus Pro on this one.
But in North America are so hungry for a win against the NBA Dallas fuel gonna be fired up
So if Dallas fuel is gonna pull up the upset give me the one player to watch who is Tasmo gonna be given a raise at the end of
This match John is gonna have a breakout tournament if they win here today
Son John is gonna be our DPS player to watch. Are you ready? It's time to go to the stage for another qualifying match
The favourites fall, but there are two more places left to go to play.
Only two spots left in the playoffs, and it's all about who is going to be brave enough to go and get them.
Because it's not only about winning, it's also about avoiding dodging the brutal key crusher at all costs.
And that's exactly what our next teams are hoping to do.
Let's welcome on to the stage, Verdes Pro!
They arrived in Paris, as EMEA's clear number one seed, they opened their campaign with
a ruthless 2-0 win over 9-Z and looked every inch a championship contender, but earlier
on today twisted minds stopped that momentum called.
Now the region's top seed has been dragged into elimination match with their tournament
and a key on the line.
Welcome, Dallas Few!
They are your North American champions,
hitting the international stage.
The North American champions are ready to smile,
but they are ready to create the surprise
because they beat Team Liquid yesterday in a domestic matchup.
But what's it gonna look like against EMEA?
Let's find out Ian.
Both teams came to Paris chasing the championship.
Now, they're fighting simply to remain in it.
One series, one key, nowhere back.
Let's get it!
Let's get it indeed.
EMEA's number one versus NA's number one.
Dallas Fuel and VP finally facing off yet again.
Moxie, last time they went head-to-head, it was that champion's clash game, VP,
three-wondom and eliminated them in that lower bracket quarters.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, ice cold if you're pure, since this is still first to two
It's still absolutely brutal as is the punishment for the team that faces defeat.
Key crushes will be at the end of our two last matches of the day.
We're not just prone though.
There's questions after this team's performance versus Twisted Minds earlier in the day.
We thought that that had the potential to be a core series.
It was done in a speedrun.
It was literally anything but.
VP got one point across two maps.
They got two on the ball and two one on Neon Junction.
Looks like we're heading back there.
This is VP's choice as well.
Diva ban for the Fuel, Cassidy for VP.
Yeah, they started moving away from Kester's Cassidy.
It off the table themselves.
I think like Des talks about this though, Johnny said,
that defeat versus Twisted Minds hasn't taught them to stay away from the dominer.
Or do we see the definition of insanity trying to do the same thing on the very same map
and running afoul of the same issue because if you want to try to run dominer,
you will invite the Rhine from Fuel.
TVNT's Ryan was good, but Kellen's Ryan, well that is legendary.
Yeah, I don't think they're gonna make the same mistake.
I started already locking in the ram, no need to panic, it's all good.
Kellen's gonna off-tank Meta kind of day for him.
He's gonna lock in the Sigma instead.
Obviously, Lukimino, Lukimino on the Wu Yang.
Because you think it would have been kind of fun, but this Wu Yang,
It's in fact almost pure poke here from Dallas.
Fuel versus VP's comp.
That wants to go a little bit more aggressive,
a little more quick with the TP from the SIP.
Yeah, so much damage, but your concussives
could also prevent Psycho Sim setting up VP.
High goodness.
And that is the benefit of a poke-heavy composition.
Kepter can't even walk the corner before he's down.
TP and Psycho,
they're going to reposition the rest of his team again.
There's, oh, Saunscher, no way.
concussive blast ice note off of the map.
VP was so quick to relocate there.
Even hit the roll out real fast too,
but yeah, Kev and ice note go down first.
Well, one honest fight before swapping to the cat bastion
since if you try and walk off of one choke
against Dallas Fields' poke heavy competition,
you will lose players before you can rotate.
So provide the attention, go up to the press on the Kira code,
4 stars field to have to react.
Psycho's put himself in the middle of a team here,
or I shouldn't say he has, Vixxer has.
Just kind of dunked him in a little bit,
so I'm surprised he's alive in this situation,
gotta be honest.
Skies don't look too healthy, though.
This Nemesis form's gonna run out in just a moment,
and Kevster is down again.
Two fights in a row now, that Kevster's fallen first.
So you're up in two, it feels like it's just not being wrecked.
He's playing so well around all of these door frames,
making it impossible for Virtus.Pro to be able to answer back
the splash damage from that borough. Look, you know on the Wu Yang, you just have to
hit good but, which means that his point becomes more positive too.
Oh, they're going to swing it again, so all, I want it to get picked up a little bit too far
forward there for the fuel, and Hanlon's going to pay the same price.
Good wave versus Saiko. Not letting that bastion chase the Wu Yang, but he's
Oh, the gangster!
Yeah, there we go. Shunjun down to fixer.
Finally, Virtus Pro have been able to find a footing.
They can try and just step up before the Thara finds any space, which is why Shunjun will swap.
Other than Thara would not be able to navigate the retakes successfully onto the tracer instead to match up versus Kevster.
Yeah, better with the tidal blast too. Luka Minnow's got it online already.
already. Sanjun's playing the focus here as Kevster, now looking at Psycho as well.
Rush Deploy, there is the title, Blast, Sanjun looking for kills in the
guilty somewhere, but it's actually Aiso that comes up with a kill on CJ. It's
gonna be a flux, Perlin getting out of the way, though actually ends up picking up
the mega back for now looking at three players. Overtis Pro taking down, but it's
DPSed on the heavy lifting, landing Kevster dead as well, and teleport back from
Sergeant straight into the line of fire at these mortars, but that is close, still standing tall at this point.
Sergeant doesn't pick up the kill on the Bastion Shore, but it's a bit of a messy fight.
They could not find the kill on to Ice, which is why Bluttersport were able to hold down the
point for so long. Finally, the Ram is forced back. Regroup with the rest of the team as Kellyns,
off at the Sigma, now onto the Mauser. Gala's still wanting to find those engagement opportunities
so that Kronik gets the space to work this over for.
Yeah, much better here with the Kalin, that's for short.
Ice on Stomp in, Iceman forced out already.
Shield behind him isn't going to help him anymore because there's Kalin,
the punishment on Iceman right now.
They still need to actually pick up the kill though.
Iceman, he's still alive.
Kronik playing in the mega health pack.
Rubez, the rest of the players are split up.
Dixir, half HP, Kronik looking for the cat.
Because Iceman, they end up winning the Thule over there.
Sunshun down, Dallas fuel up to 90%.
It's Kalin tries to rejoin the rest of the team.
Yeah, but they were down Psycho off of that overclock kill from Kronix.
Old Sparks Pro having to wait.
More so, could be huge from Kads though, but you have to get past using it.
Oh, not quite though.
Interpreting that little edge instead.
Force to recall as well.
The other fight for just a moment is OT.
There's been triggers.
VP are on the point there, contesting about how much longer.
Eisenhower hasn't got an annihilation to kind of refresh that nemesis for.
As now, it looks like VP are going to capture back.
Alice, do you want to pick it up and get on to land it?
Honestly, that is the best kill you can get.
Now he's only picked it, he's trying to heal the team, it's like he gets picked out of the air on the Bastion.
Picks a hat, got this ultimate of course, but I don't think it's really going to be all of it in impact here.
A tidal blast on Tystome, Lukavino picks up the kill and he's only picked a left.
He's going to get another touch. He's got the catnap, he ain't got time though.
Oh, that's brutal for Virtus Pro.
1% of Kitsuna Rush for Landon.
What a kill from the Dallas Fuel. Finding that Kiriko, the one thing that
Virtus.Pro were wanting to be able to leverage to hold on to that point.
Moments like this as well, like Junjun just being able to stay behind, play those
doorways. Quite conclusive there. Finding that connection onto ice. This, that one
pick that secured done that fight. Fixer's just forced to have to play right below the
point itself just to try to live to be able to find the touch so that Virtus.pro can push
back with that rush but they're denied the opportunity of BOT and we head to second round.
Ice now off of the rematch are too vulnerable to the stomp connection from Kellen's Valga.
He'll go for the hash.
I did the eSports classic that did bump into the Dallas Fuel in the bathroom before this
series.
Did ask Helen if he felt a little bit nervous and he said, yeah, I do actually.
Confident, but a little bit nervous.
I don't want to repeat the champion's clash, but like he said with the little interview
with Danny as well, scrims have been going well for us.
We've been beating VP and I'll continue on stage.
Let us throw in a decent position on the point so far that once again they've lost land
and two Sonja.
found the most important early pink and now VP are forced to try and take the fight fast
and the Dallas Fuel they're not giving them any meterage. There is a little bit of a little
bit of disruption the backline's short. Chronic is dead doesn't matter though Dallas Fuel they got
numbers and they got the point. Not just that but look at how far ahead CJ is in terms of that first
rush charge the landing but it's for half to respect the fact that Fuel will have that first
Rush to be able to hold the grandstand.
Two hundred and two, with the first pulse of the match.
Landon looking like such a good leader to have Psych.
Okay, all good though.
There is a Suzu.
Save for them, at least for now.
Psycho, now looking for his one.
Does he find her?
Oh sure, no 15 HP, it's the recall.
Now's the time to go, really.
Only got one blink though, so maybe they're gonna hold on.
Dp and a clip at the point behind,
Dp knows the last skills,
Lucino doesn't have going down,
even though the rush from the fuel has been used.
The Teleport away there from Songin, a recall to get out of that mega health pack room.
Now Pelon and Ice Stone just trading Stomps.
Double cage on the point, there's the Spree as well from Kepster.
Poltspaw deletes the cage from Kelen, but Kepster is the one doing the damage.
CJ Kelen dead, but it's pro, continue to hold.
Straight Stomp from Ice, slamming onto Kelen, forcing the cage mirror,
allows Landon that opportunity to be able to get rushed when his tank is still alive.
And Virtus.pro forced fuel back.
Xiong Xiong now actually off of the tracer onto the Reaper.
Wants to be able to find that in past the tanks onto the back lines
but Virtus.pro has to turn and kill the Kirikos.
Way more front to back now.
No hope really of picking off Landon with the Reaper.
And when she got on a crazy flight,
Monarch actually is away really early.
There's the Patnav coming through from Vixar.
He's trying to steal somebody but in fact,
Christo was just like,
On the wrong side of the fight, they're in a flicking position to win Kellan, and Chronic just laces fix his head off.
Those probably the decent lead though.
If you're going to have 60 plus percent of the time, they'll go down.
Yeah, how do you feel trying to hold this point?
They at least, again, since they were able to get that first kill and to land it on the first fight,
so it is massively ahead.
For all of these different rushes, I'll have the first rush for this next fight yet again.
But if you're running the Reaper and the Soldier, what you don't have is a way of keeping Psycho and Kepster in check.
Like this positioning here as well, Luke and me hosts, who've got this cat map, way bigger advantage versus Fixer,
and this aggressive drop down on the stairs results in the kill on the Kepster,
who has really drawn the ire of the fuel.
You want to shut down the carry, and that carry is definitely Kepster.
Fjord didn't touch a good job to have stacking together to make sure that Vodafone don't take advantage with the Tracer machine and the ability, the speed, that they can clap onto isolated players and find those kills.
And Fjord, they're just fighting together strong. CJ with that rush, Sjundrum with the deathblossom, but our eye is on Cypher right now. He has that pulse bomb, he's lurking, he's trying to identify a good place to put it.
These cage fights are going to be nasty too, Sonjins caught the death blossom.
So Ice is going to have to play a little bit more tentative maybe, a little bit more careful.
CJ is going to push them forward though.
And yeah, okay, no cage required here, just a solo death blossom on Kevster.
Case play from Kellen instead, ice storm and emergency one.
Dallas fuel at 90%.
And hey, would you look at this, they can play all the way up, landed at no choice,
couldn't even use the rush, Psycho to touch.
Oh, yeah, the Tracer's going to have to exhaust all of the blinks though.
Right, there it is. Straight back out again. Has got Rekal saved that one, so couldn't go in.
Play a little bit more aggressive here.
Holtz one goes wide against the retouch. There's the rush, Ice Gnome on the doon.
Psycho down, they need to make this one stick though. As long as Dallas Duke can hold out,
they might be good to win this fight. But Kepster's going to put an end to that.
Chronix now down to the Black Kepster with his breeze, going to get shut down by Kelen,
who makes his way back to the point. And now Ice. Maybe regretting the pick of the
the doom here against the Margot is going to be tough but he had to play it to get back to the point in time.
Another quick punch in, gets slaughtered by Sungeon and now it's easy pickings for the Fuel DPS.
Cores to hit the ship but it should not matter, Kixer goes down, the last remaining members of VP
are going to fall to Psycho, Kevster looking to get back the Dallas Fuel to own a ball.
Their coordination is just so good.
You look at that Death Blossom Contingent,
they actually send the Kiriko to go alongside for the Suzu.
He teleports to his Reaper.
He uses the Suzu on the Death Blossom to make sure that that iFrame lasts before Kevster can react.
He takes the shield down, doesn't allow a trade opportunity
to take one of those backline support players down.
to have forced Dallas Fuel to play suddenly slower. Yeah, see, look, watch, you can see,
there's the Suzy, there's the Fuel Pocket, and the whole time you know that your mother
will be able to win because he's starting the fight with all of his resources.
I've done such a good job with the Malga, and this was at Dallas Fuel. If you look at the last
stage, Julian spoke to about this in interviews, but Dave with the different, the off-medity,
the different non-malga team. The non-malga team. We want to play Winston. We want to play ball.
We want to play anything but Ryan. We want to play anything but
Malga. Yeah. And he's coming into an international game. Actually, you know what?
EMEA, you historically know. Very good. Malga region. And he's kind of giving it to Ice Knight.
Well, they had to evolve right because you look at the journey through the NA playoffs
for their region. Day 1 took a loss to Liquid. Liquid, for the most part, were able to dismantle
heroes so quickly, especially on control, by running Counter Dive because they knew the hero pool
that Kellyn wanted to be able to secure. So Liquid just went after all of those dive targets, and
sadly for Dive, there have been some really good heroes put into the game of Overwatch that can
just totally shut down dive with sure amounts of CC and the first damage with
fast in-cat because how do you dive something which is constantly in the
air and has the damage potential and the first window to absolutely melt you
unless you have damage reduction or a shield something that a lot of our dive
viewers simply do not have so fair play like absolute huge credit to Kellan
we've rarely got to see him play the Malga up until that point and then he
He started picking it up and then suddenly surprised Dallas Fuel first seed from N8.
Smash and Wheats deciding where they want to go next and what they want to ban.
We'll see if they end up targeting Helen's here at 4, maybe even just going for one of
the DPS.
Ice Noob fans being the crowd of course.
I'd say there's a tank close before us pretty sweet.
Yeah, that was.
They're going to need to sharpen them, that's for sure, because Dallas Fuel will bring the
heat.
It did feel like they got pretty deplored in terms of their DPS line like that just was not opportunity
Especially that second map shrine sanctum
There's trades back and forth and you can sort of say okay
Well, they were building up to have momentum and then it got denied off of just kills coming into their backline
But you compare that performance to shrine and it just felt like the others pro never really got the opportunity to stop
that first kill onto Landon set the pace of the whole map first rush to the side
of fuel constantly and no chance for a Shion or Tracer to be able to start
picking kills or taking attention away to force Dallasfield to have to turn and
place resources that were funneled towards the frontline and finding picks
onto Virtus.Pro to have to appeal for their backline. I like this pick here new
But so is Ramm is the issue.
This is so sad.
So, I do like that you're taking that Mauga away because it does also mean that you can't
hand the Ramm.
Wait, that goes kinda hard.
Wait a second.
I may have just found the best sign of the building.
Jack's found a favour.
I'm still searching for mine.
I think mine's probably one of the illustrated ones, the talent that audience have.
You know what we're saying? Now watch, the talent is there.
We'll see if that talent can carry VP.
First to two still, match point for the fuel, can they continue?
Can they get revenge for champions clash?
Jumping in to new junk city.
His first opening comps here, that's such a risk.
If you misread what your opponent plays, you just torpedo your chances for first fight, so it feels like the safest thing to do, honestly, is just both go ram.
Sigma gets run over by ram, Domina gets run over by ram, Rhyme gets absolutely steamrolled by ram without that same TP to be able to set him up.
Quick tech pause. I think CJ's in ears were on backwards.
So his left was on right, and right was on left, sorry.
Hey guys, I'm hearing footsteps on my left!
Oh wait, no that breaks it hit me from the right.
We're back, CJ, got it fixed. No problem.
That would have been absolutely awful.
Oh that would have been so confusing to have to use this back here.
the battle it was the front is back and back is front either way CJ got his ear
bone saw it regardless let's get the skates open
Kallen on the round no shock although a rhyme would have been a little bit more
fun okay so if you're actually going for Luke Meno on the Mizuki so he's going
to have a lot of good brass shirts you'll be able to stop ice nomes momentum
Running forward with that Nemesis form right into the chains, but Tan's Psycho take the Mizuki down
With the split pressure of both the Tracer and the Sheen early
Wow, that was a quick pick. Kronik already fed to Kevster. Very quick of course with that Lucio
Lukavino and Dallas Fuel they want to be able to rotate around you, VP, the opposite, want to go a little bit quicker
I mean, first of all, have the means with that Lucio to just out-tempo Dallas Fuel's locations
Zalcil can try to slow things down from the booting and have more damage for that punk psycho.
Having to win a 1 vs 2 gets up the fight.
And they're not gonna happen there. Ice no going very low shield dancer right now.
Rabbit is Hortex strail, pop the heal up low.
The support's down low, landing and fix her. Topic, the ram back up.
Quick flip though for the fuel potentially. Ice no now.
Trying to patch Kallis on the point both nexus spawns have been used a little late to want though from Ice no.
But it doesn't really seem to matter. Another good focus flyer there onto Ice.
CJ with a couple of kills, even killing Psycho 2 with a Q-9.
How does he get in the cap?
Look, Mino actually trades his life to get that chain onto Ice, sets up Psycho to take him out,
but Dowsfield still have more kills on the board and tanks still in play to hold this space for them.
So, VirtusPro licking their wounds and having to play retake for this next fight.
Rush available for both Turakos at the same time. We're looking to BPS to find early pit.
Kepsta quite harsh with a little bit of damage there. Just base tanking Kelen for the time being.
He's got an annihilation in a couple of moments. Support backline already doing a lot of work here.
Nala's fuel as the rush gets bought for 4, T.J. ends up going down. A final hurrah maybe.
As Kepsta hits the execution but it is all soldiered there.
A triple kill. Fight execution. Straight into some primary fire. Kills Kepsta.
And that might just be the first point.
Look at their side-fingers!
Trying to find where exactly that Turricle went!
Oh, that's disgusting getting to play within that rush, and that...
It's not lost by it, but we're still thinking that they have a chance.
They've got a touch though.
Landon moved that rush, because they're in that last fight.
No rush anymore!
Picsum maybe haven't beaten here, but it'll take a long time for them to actually stall out.
Nope, not gonna happen.
Kevster tried to make the hero play, but it was a hero's downfall after that spree Dallas Stueloff of points.
Fervus Pro again denied a fight win opportunity by Landon falling early and Kerstin now falling late
Luke Mino on the Mizuki has been on absolute fire
We normally see him on something like the Wu Yang but that would have been too easy to cycle and Kerstich would have won over
I really do like the use of this Mizuki instead
Better positioning for the fuel
Setting up shot for the back of the point. They got Luke Mino
with that sanctuary. It's very tough to deal with it, Landon's so low already, look at this.
Iceman already on the point, trying to contest, he's trying to unlock the land and it goes down first, yet again!
Chronic with a railgun shot, the annihilation defend is getting popped as well as the soundbar,
he fixes it to keep everybody alive, happy and well on the point, get to another one.
Ice ends up going down, point still, yet to be capped here, but it is CJ picking up the pieces of the team fight
as VP are going to lose control.
Yeah, Virtus.Pro had signed bar to sustain their annihilation, but they didn't have the damage to be able to burst through kellons
Which means that Dallasfield despite losing players early to trades
Still again when I have the fight and Songlet wins for one versus one versus Psycho
Which means that Virtus.Pro lose that opportunity to hit Dallasfield's backline
This is them just having to wait for regroup and now having to walk into product with an overclock when they don't have a beat to
And the rush as well. 80% CJ. Start off with Chronic, hey we don't get a kill, not a problem.
Then we got Rush, then we can win the fight, and the longer they stall out this point, the more than likely they're gonna weigh out to win this too. 60% already.
Hello? Pretty long. Fight for Kevster gets in a better position, but Chronic again gets the kill onto Fixer.
No more Lukamina, but Kevster is just not in this fight whatsoever. Way too hesitant to try and step up, but Chronic is standing in his way.
OC has been used and now CJ can finish us to one off with a rush.
Ice Nome on the point to try and trigger OT, but they're actually taking the fight lower.
Kronig goes down, but Kelen is right behind him.
Ice Nome with a decent kill with a ravenous vortex, but it is OT for the Dallas Fuel.
They're at 99% with CG, CJ teleporting away.
Eventually tracked down, but a beautiful change from Lukamino stops the breathe from hitting the backline.
Perth's pro denied the opportunity of using that shield, thanks to Lukmino, Galax do a 1% away, 1 fight win away from picking up the second flashpoint
Shionjun with that cold spawn, Landon, a prime target to go after since he's so close to that rush
They don't get this rush off, I fear for the worst, recall from Sonjun, waiting for a chance to go in again, Landon playing so damn safe
say ravenous vortex does hit it though so he's going to teleport forward straight into the rush
now iceman turning his ire to kelin pretty low is kelin however still got that nemesis form
popping but eventually it fades away the dps from the bird to spro side are gonna clean up and now
vp on the verge of taking this point they're starting to hit that stride they're going for
the backline pressure when the fight's halfway through as opposed to at the start of it so
Dallasfield don't have the players spare to be able to scout out where the treacher and she on off
Do we see a touch? Yes, we do just in time from
His bike straight away trying to find Sunjin
Kellen's gonna be out to get on the point
It's gonna refresh the nemesis form with this annihilation plus Sunjin still has that pulse
Winnable for the Dallas fuel the bird is broke and put a little bit of a damper on their spirits here with the sound barrier
But Kevster and Kaviks are going down anyway!
Chronic with a snipe again opens up the fight!
Oh dear me, Virtus Pro losing members with ult's time and time again!
Dallas Fuel up to two!
I mean it's so much easier for Fuel to be able to hit the backline from Virtus Pro, right?
Because you can just shoot from afar as opposed to being directly on top of them.
The way that Psycho and Kevster have to be with the Shion and that Tracer.
So Fixer and Landon just not having a fun time.
Virtus.pro have to find a way of keeping their backflank safe if they want to be able to have safe chances to continue in this tournament.
Dallasville one flashpoint away from crushing Virtus.pro's key.
Double GPS off for the fuel. Fixer still with the feet. You can't go down early, not again, please.
Land it. It's gonna be under a bit of pressure. There's the sound barrier. Okay, proactivity for Virtus.pro now.
stop the overclocked and while the conic still gets to you, and look at the black line
yeah while kelin is dead sojum won hb so it is going to be a bp win wasn't exactly clean though
yeah if you're a vertus pro right now you're asking terrorist questions like how do we keep losing
our supports even when we win the fight this should not be happening guys
Kephse has that spray. You can at least try to use it to win the rush versus rush.
Oh, no, the suzu! Those are the wipe-itters! The amount of CJ still wins up killing Kephse.
Okay, hang on a second here. Lukimino does trade, but Kephse's the main source of damage here, pervert as pro.
Yeah. Now you're looking at Spyko, but what can Spyko do within this rush? It's all about Ice.
Rush? For Rush here. Now Sondra trying to insert himself into the conversation, into that backline.
Ice holding his arms, just so steady.
He needs his annihilation. Pulse bomb goes wide though, he dodges out of it.
Kester comes back with a spree, he's shut down by Kellen.
And now Ice just begging Hody to do a ticket damage. There it is! Okay, annihilation on the point.
Kellen's not going to be able to stand up here, and this annihilation is just going to rip through him.
They're trying to distract the back one inside to get the blink smack melee onto CJ,
and now only Luke Camino to try and heal up the rest of the team.
Good kill, Vontedal is still not allowing them to play for the second stage.
Quite when Kellen has uncontested annihilation to run through back onto that point,
when Virtus.pro don't have the sound barrier to stand up to it.
Virtus.pro remain in the tournament and pull the first flash point,
but we still have to see them pull out more if they want to be able to find this map win. Dallas
will have so many ultimates to set them up for this next fight. Kellen's annihilation has to be
top of concern. Oh, I'm scared for this point especially with Luke being over this ult,
just drags him off the edge. Speaking of which, there it is. Oh, sniped out of the air, though.
That's a little rough. Kellen and Ice Snow just looking at each other. There's annihilation
from Kalin and he's pretty damn low but he has the support CJ just tailing after him making sure
he's topped up. I'm not happy about losing that round, what do you want? I'm on a second lad and
Kedzler, I should find three kills. Saiko now looking around for anybody else. Kelle of course
on the point trying to cap, it's gonna get back up in just a moment. Lukavino's back in the action.
Saiko has the pulse bomb, Kalin's about to run out of block. You have to get back, yeah you can't
Can't really stay around here whatsoever. Luke Domino, dashing forward briefly, it's going to have to give up control of the point.
Good vortex from ice as well, just to make sure that Darsfield can't close up the distance and stop the destroyer's cat. What's Sunjin up to though?
He's here, folks.
All that, all chronic, just opening fire again, Sean.
That post was filthy!
Soundbar from Fixer's gonna save, and those they try and barrow him forward without Psycho now.
It's a 4v5 in the front line, as Karanik and Fixer end up trading.
A cap coming through for the Dallas Fuel as well.
They've got ult, they managed to flip the fight on this team.
I mean, Burdus Pro need to react now.
Songin trying to close the doors on Kepto, they're dangerously low,
but Songin just never record to play around.
Psycho's now gonna match up in the 1v1, as this rush from the Burdus Pro side of things
is just basically useless.
It's a final.
This 3 holds for VP.
Ice Ember's going to wreck the annihilation just to try and stay alive and he needs to
support to get back, but Connick ends up just isolating him and getting the kill.
Oh and the Pulse Bomb too.
Shrugs it off.
Great Suzy from CJ Chronic just stands still, has full trust that his character will be
able to cleanse them and Dallas Fuel holds strong.
Sanctuary should be able to absorb Kev's Despairy so Rage Pro can't even think that
on that. Extending the fight is what is key here for the fuel. Get this to OT, get
these ults and get the win. Nerves from Kelen, don't look apparent right now. Full
confidence from the tank, from the fuel. There's a spree from Kevster, he's also
making big impact. Only ults for VP right now. There's the annihilation, the sanctuary,
there's just so much to try and deal with here. Kevster dashes in with the spree,
3 shots out, Ssangjumper, Istone, the front line for VP, already gone.
The Dallas Fuel, it's a 4v4 and they have control, Landon, Topple, Vartus Pro, coming
back on the wrecking ball to get a final touch, but NA's best here, NA's number 1 seed, dismantling
VP.
Istone's gonna be able to get another retouch here, with the hopes and dreams of EMEA are
Fading, Sondjum with a post two, desperation from VP.
It's five, six, seven touches, but you're going to need a whole lot more than that to stop Kronik.
Dennis Fjull doing it too.
A secure spot in the playoffs.
VP, Annie Emié, their keys are getting crushed.
He'll put Virtus Pro back to bed. To hibernation, the team will go.
What a shutdown versus that Rematra composition.
It just felt like you had all of the control.
Blu's been up with that Mizuki in absolute standouts on insane chainplays
to be able to find the connections.
Aren't you things like that, Shion, the Rematra as well?
So many times, Helen's able to win the one versus one with Ice,
Having that annihilation, being able to extend out the Nemesis form to have the block and damage reduction to beat out your opponent,
for the Playfront Field, the spark has ignited!
Chronic, look at how many opening picks he had on the SOTAN.
The amount of just normal rails. No OC, just normal rails.
the first to two. He just. Did
not get that opportunity. It
didn't feel like it whatsoever.
Now Weets is going to have the
honor of crushing that key as
we jump down to him and Ian on
the stage. What a win for
number one Dallas fuel. I'm
standing by with weeks. I mean,
such a great win, especially considering it was revenge for the champion's class, right?
Yeah, we've been waiting to get our chance to get them back since Japan, and you know,
we've all been looking forward to playing Europe the whole time that we've been sitting in NA
hearing everyone talk about how Europe's way better, so. You're enjoying this even more?
Very much. Did you manage to catch VP's loss earlier on today against Twisted Minds? Yeah,
yeah, we watched the whole game because, you know, we played the loser, so we were on. So what did
What did you learn from it?
I think we learned that.
I mean, we were happy to play the other team.
Honestly, the cops were playing with pretty weak.
How proud are you of this team right now?
Because obviously you're the coach, but you're also Serp.
But you're overlooking all of this.
I mean, you must be so delighted with how your team's performing.
Yeah, I'm so proud of my team to make it out of the group to play off.
So I think coming into this year, a lot of people have had doubts about our roster.
and I'm just really happy to get to go to playoffs and try and win this whole thing.
I kind of caught you off guard for the interview.
I'm going to catch you off guard again right now, because if you look over your shoulder,
you're about to go crush a key. All right? You up for it?
I get to do it, wow.
You get to do it, coaching sub here, stepping up to crush the key.
If you just go over to our key master, he'll talk you through it.
Guys, come and watch the process. Get in there.
Because Virtus.Pro came to Paris, undefeated, EMEA champions, twisted minds, stopped their momentum, Dallas Fuel finished the job.
And that's a huge one to stay with me just for one more moment here week.
That's a huge one for Vectors Pro as well in their ambitions to be club champions this
year.
They really needed that one.
But we, I've just got one final question for you here.
How far do you truly believe this team can go now?
I believe if we play our game we can beat anyone.
Well best of luck in the rest of the tournament.
Who do you want next?
Any idea?
I don't know.
I think we're going to get CRS, Ada, so I'm happy to play either of them.
Okay, well good luck and thanks again for the interview.
Wow, one more to go and then we'll find out who everybody plays in our draw show a little
bit later on.
Coach, Jake, we see Dallas Field coming out with a surprise 2-0.
Sojourn, not the only one involved in the victory.
Who do you give credit to for the W?
I got to put a lot of credit to Unchronic, right?
Just like absolutely turning up on the Sojourn,
found so many critical picks.
This young player, he was one of the most exciting prospects in North America.
But this is the type of win that really shows that he can compete on the global stage.
stages like we said I mean we've been doubting and I think fairly because yeah honestly in Japan
it was a it was a terrible performance for the region but getting this revenge over Virtus Pro
this kind of changes everything. Johnny are the American teams retooled at this event or is EMEA
just choking? I think it has to be a little bit of both here but North America deserves a lot of
credit because they've heard this narrative like we've said like months now just EMEA is the better
region. North America, they don't have the talent. They're not as smart as the video game.
And then you see Dallas Fuelier bring a pretty unique style, pocketing chronic,
and he does work with all this space to support them and setting an awkward talent,
doing a fantastic job in the front line there as well. And the damage pairs just coming up
touch for this team. So, Virtus.pro, this is a really disappointing loss for Virtus.pro,
who were stacked. They were the number one seed coming out of EMEA. But Dallas Fuel
deserves a comeback credit because of how this region has leveled up.
I feel for Virtus Pro and for EMEA fans that have been tuning in, but I'm excited for Dallas.
Fuel, what is the ceiling for this squad and have you seen it yet at EWC, Jake?
I mean, honestly, any more wins they get are great to have, but I think they've already
maybe surpassed my expectations to make it into the top eight. If they could do as well as the top
four, that would be fantastic. It would be a huge result for this team. But honestly,
to defeat the EMEA number one seed, it already kind of changes, I think, the way we have to look
Global Overwatch. This means NA might be back.
Johnny, are there any new Metas being showners, this same old same old from recent ranked games?
I mean, honestly, we used to have the Metas in Overwatch,
where you play this one come for like four months, and who's the best at it?
These days, you can just play about any hero, and it's about being very comfortable playing
your style, and that's why I love Dallas Fuel. They play their own game, and they're really
comfortable doing so, and then they surpass a team like Virtus.Pro, who may be a little over
eager with all the flexibility and all the compositions they're trying to play.
Now this was first to two, when we get to the next level, it'll be first to three.
Does this give Dallas an edge or will this be a handicap for them as they take on some
number one seeds?
Well, I mean, as Johnny was just talking about, right, Dallas being this unique team that
plays their own style, you look at a lot of the best teams in the tournament and you could
kind of say the same thing about them.
I mean, think about Crazy Raccoon, think about Zeta.
They're both teams that have brought their own innovative style.
So maybe for Dallas, it shouldn't be such a big shock that they make it on to the next
tier of the tournament to compete with the likes of those squads.
I gotta say, like this team has been doubted time and time again.
I don't think I've ever pretty good Dallas fuel this year.
And so I don't think there's reason for me to start like voting for them now.
General matter, TASMO.
I don't think he wants my help at this point.
So we'll see how they do.
They shout out to TASMO and Hashtra, of course, bring in Overwatch back to Dallas.
The Dallas Fuel are surviving into our bracket play as they will reach our top eight.
We take a look at how Group A has played out.
It started with Twisted Minds to shock her with a 2-0 over Virtus.pro.
We thought Virtus.pro should be able to bounce back against NA's best.
Instead, it is the Fuel advancing to the playoffs.
T1 also set the Falcons packing.
What is a bigger surprise?
The fact that VP or Falcons are out here.
I would say Virtus.pro, Jake.
I would say Falkus came in a little bit shaky, Mirtel's back of course, but Virtus.pro, the number one seed of EMEA going out there, that's a big upset for me.
I'd agree. VP, the EMEA number one seed, EMEA had looked like an amazing region this year, looked like the region 2B globally competitive with the Koreans.
Now there's two NA teams in the top eight.
Wow.
You know, I hate, I'm excited. It's been a while since I really believed in North American Overwatch, but at this point the proof's in the pudding.
SSG and Dallas are onto the playoffs. Both of them could potentially make a run.
There's only one spot left in the playoffs, and that belongs to either GK or JDG.
While we wait for that match on the stage, we're checking with Ginny over at Street Fighter 6.
It's the third day of groups here over at the Alliance Vault, where we've got some
streetfire action going on. Elimination still happening. He's still getting crushed. So Trout,
what's going on? Yes, we kind of went from groups into more groups for day three. So it's still
eliminations. People again, not down to low bracket and taking out the competition. The most
important of those, we had a Falcons versus Falcons matchup. So one of them had to be taken out of
the competition and it was Crimey who took down Mickey. So Mickey out of the competition and
we're down to one out of three Falcons now. So that's the main story. And obviously we already
We already found it such and how Xiao Hai was taken out in the earlier stages and he was the favorite.
So now it's kind of boiling down to all these Asian organizations still a crazier acute in it.
Big representation from Zayster Division who had to face off against each other as well and the same for Reject 2.
Obviously these organizations are a bit further down the leaderboard so not as impactful as if Falcons got a win but every point matters.
Well if you can't beat them, beat yourself I guess that's the story here for Falcons.
We're going to keep you updated if anything else changes and see you around.
No, no, no, no!
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Get, get!
AAAAAAAAAAH!
Hello, friends.
I thought of something fun to do with the fans.
I'm going to ask around who the most underrated team is.
Most underrated team in the tournament.
What's underrated team is T1.
T1?
Okay.
People don't think they're probably like top 6 right now.
I think, with Maga being as strong as it is, as strong as it is,
they're probably going to go a lot farther than people think.
The number one underrated has got to be SSG obviously, but number two, Liquid.
Ooh, why, why, why?
I'm also a bit of a Liquid fan, so...
You're double dipping?
Yeah, I'm double dipping.
I was not happy with how Dallas did Liquid dirty yesterday, I'll say it.
But I think SSG and Liquid, two best M18s.
If I had to say you have to choose one that's the most underrated, I'm sorry, I'm putting you on the spot.
It's got to be SSG, it's got to be SSG.
I'll say it, I'll say it.
Sugarbomb for life, Sugarbomb for life.
I think Dallas is really underrated, especially Sun Jin has been popping off the last games,
and I think especially Sun Jin is really underrated right now.
I would say Dallas probably. I think NA is really...
It's not going that great for him in the past tournaments,
and I think Dallas can show really great showing of NA this tournament,
and yeah, great talent for that team.
I wholeheartedly agree. How about you?
I'm going to go with Barrel. I think the Japanese teams have improved greatly over the past year or so.
And yeah, I want to support Barrel and I think they're doing great so far.
Barrel is definitely underrated as well. I would say if someone asks me, Barrel is underrated and there are so many great teams as well.
What do you guys think? Who do you think is the most underrated team at EWC?
King for the brave, you know what I mean
You see my name on the dice
That ain't your right, I shan't be
We've got some called Warzone action happening for day two here over in the
Kodiya City grid and glitter is of course joining us to give us a bit of an
update as to what we can be expecting from the club championship points from
your stage. Yeah because we've got a lot there we're paying attention right now
Obviously day two groups so by the end of the day six teams will be sent home and their keys will be crushed
Okay, we will also be sending teams through to finals
So we're paying attention to how these squads are doing biggest story right now coming out of group A is twisted minds
They are different champs, but it's a completely different roster than what we saw last time
So there were some question marks surrounding them
So however, they were first out of groups yesterday for their group A and now today were four matches in out of six
They've won two gotten third place in another and gotten fifth in another
They have not dropped out of the top five spots in four out of six. That's not true. I said it's huge for them
This is very big it almost pretty much guarantees them all the way through to finals already after this performance
So they are a CC squad. We're absolutely keeping our eyes on will they defend their title fair minimum
Will they get some points on the board?
But then if we're looking down a group B
They haven't played yet today, but that is where team Falcons are now
Now they, that's a juicy part.
Yeah, and they were the favorite heading into this game.
So people had some really high expectations of them
and they ended up seventh after their first group
performance yesterday.
That's terrible, but not great, right?
They're looking to do a little bit more.
So we're gonna see if they bounce back later on
in the day today.
Should be interesting to see what happens with that.
All right, well thank you so much.
You're a very theoretical championship update.
That's it from us for now.
Hope you guys are enjoying these.
And if you're not, well, this I gotta keep coming.
Welcome in to the 20th and final match of the group stages.
This one decides who is going to be the eighth team making it into our playoff bracket and
who is getting on an airplane at the end of the night.
It's been a fun ride up to this point.
We got to welcome in Zoe and Rand Force for the final ride.
This one should be good, JDG, the surprise of the tournament, able to surprise everyone
yesterday.
They're going up against GK, who fell at the start of the day, will start with GK.
Where are they at and your power rankings and what did they show you so far at UWC?
I mean, they had to go up against a very good opponent earlier today, so I think they shouldn't
like take that result to a heart.
And quite frankly, I think they even in their loss, they actually really showed up.
I feel like they played phenomenally when they were at quite severe disadvantages, like in terms of ultimates and what not.
They managed to win fights with Gragas, so I regard this.
So I think overall their performance, even in their loss, has been very promising.
I think if you're looking at these two teams' pocket, I can't wait because this is essentially just a barrel of explosives.
Both of these teams are just full of mechanical prowess and individual skill, and sometimes they work more mechanically.
I mean you think back to like DK, two of these guys were in the eSports World Cup finals last year,
Labda, and we're talking about Ziad, it's like this 18 year old probably, who finally now might have a chance to play some D.Va,
that's his signature specialist hero, and then on the other side, Gettigaming, they're just, yeah, we're gonna play Wrecking Ball,
don't build up some of the out there, let's play Tracer and Ziad, etc.
Now did you just say Ziad is better at D.Va than he was on Nalgir, because he was looking incredible on the tag earlier in the tournament?
Oh, the D.Va was just like phenomenal, arguably like best in the world last year.
And obviously this year has had to play more Malga and more Amatra.
And I just don't think that is his favorite here at the place.
But this matchup might get up that opportunity.
So we got about a minute 20 before we get to the stage.
So let's talk about JDG because they beat up on Team Secret.
They did indeed that set though. Secret.
Yeah, that smile.
I mean, I feel so because they were extremely dominant.
Pineapple and Kinect keep the damage to it. They were absolutely popping up.
Now, I already mentioned Phyllis Ria's ball was phenomenal, like exemplary, picture book, perfect.
Talking to Lord Chambers yesterday, he was saying if you would have told 20 road in that I would
be talking to a lad named Pineapple and crushing keys, I tell you you're a liar. But here we are,
2026, Zoe. We all still have careers somehow and this team is now thriving on our EWC stage.
Yeah, they keep on hiring us not entire sure why but please continue on that trajectory. We do love to see
That's right. That's kind of crazy though
We're gonna we're gonna see you in chambers in about 25 seconds. So before we do
Let's talk about the numbers 79% of the fans are going GK. How confident are you?
You should be the favorites here, but this is upset alerts similar to the matchup
We just saw if GK overthink things they could be in trouble. So you got I I got GK for this one
but I do think that the JVG, at least on control, could sneak him up away.
It is the final match of the group stages. Thank you for watching EWC. It's over.
Ladies and gentlemen, I can't wait to have so much emotion on this third day of Overwatch,
my heart broken, on the Japanese side of Varelle, we have our representatives in EMEA who have also fallen.
At Virtus.pro, we've seen a lot of heartbreaking stories.
The eliminations of my favorites, Varel, the Japanese team, Virtus.pro, our EMEA champions, are out.
men, which heart is going to get broken again on this last spot?
Another one, that's for sure Lou, and I'm going to give you a little peek behind the curtain.
We're lucky enough to be behind the scenes here and seeing all the players before and after the matches.
And the heartbreak really is true, it's real and pre-match as well.
The tension in the air is palpable and that is because all of them want to stay in this tournament
to become the mid-season champions and lift this.
the trophy, the money of course for our last spot in play of the first contenders are
GKE Sports!
EMEA, especially MENA representatives, they pushed the EMEA champions to the absolute limit
And they proved that they could be very dangerous on the Parisian scene.
True dark horses in the field, but now back against the wall.
Can they take down their opponent?
The opponent is standing by, and it's JD Gaming!
Now that tournament began with defeat, but when elimination came calling, JDG answered
with a ruthless 2-0 win.
They have already fought their way back from the edge once, and here and now in Paris they
stand on the brink of it once again.
EMEA vs China, pick your champion, JDG or GK. Get your last ticket to the playoffs.
That's right. The last ticket to the playoffs is going to be granted to either JDG or GK Esports.
This is the first time they're facing off against each other moxie.
GK just came off of a series which honestly could have gone their way.
A 2-1 versus Zayton of all people.
Yeah, that new jump city, they looked a team on fire.
Labda's sojourn especially.
From pepsi courts, that really takes you back.
But for JDGaming, they're taking us forward.
We're getting to see what Chinese Overwatch matters look like.
We've been 2026 Wable gaming already through a huge achievement.
JDGaming now, they want to see if they can join their teams to represent in the playoffs.
For me, I want to see the starting lineup.
Will it be Belisrael? Will it be Roxy?
I feel like they have more success from Bellas Reyes in just for the flexibility that we've talked about because he gave
They will force them to have to swap through a fair few
Compositions as we have a look at our band Samoa the control map no surprises
Mauga
Staple of the control matter and jetpack cat purely because you can slot them into pretty much every
position. Yeah, it definitely
feels like that at this point.
Doesn't matter. You don't have
to win the bash. You can do it
with a cast. You can do it with
a soldier like it's whatever,
but we won't see it here. The
support lineups going to go
something a little bit different.
And honestly, GK's support lineups
to be fair. I mean, Kellex that
day one, like beta, he's been around. And Finn too, I think Finn's hero pool, extremely
deep. So we'll see how they end up kind of navigating this one. No Mauga, of course,
for this game time, which is normally what's the other people are now. Bella Sreja and
JD Gaming decided, you know what, we're going to take you something a little bit more uncomfortable,
maybe, or maybe even something a little bit interesting. Bella Sreja, you go on the pool,
my guy, but really down on this stage.
Yeah, this seems like JD Gaming have sort of found identity within this really
pressuring composition where your attention's constantly drawn to having to deal with
Racking Ball, having to deal with the Wu Yang Spam, but for Volcano, probably not.
Once more likely that we'll get to see that Rematra versus Rematra, the main wrinkle being
laughter on the Cassidy pineapple the Sojin. We've already seen the pick potential that
that Sojin has a neutral Kineki on that May as well, wanting to try to find
Isolations versus the deck. Yeah, our silly heroes aren't going to be that May and that
Sim for JDGaming and GK. Really early, push off to this high ground with that TP,
you're able to get there so quick, plus Pelix's speed. You two though, with that poke on the
Weeang, does mean that JDGaming have more damage before these fights start.
Wow, that is great. So lucky. Deal with that turret. It's a good way to 3 punches.
Lap is hitting shots. He's already 50% dead. I put it to the May that falls first.
Yeah, me too was trying to get the pocket there, but a good TP from Alphie as well is going to catch up in U2.
That's just Duké forcing JD Gaming to have to bid a Hasty Retreat and a Hasty Console to Kineke actually off of the May onto the Sheon.
knows that GK would just be impossible to be able to totally lock down with both
the Lucio and the Sim to be able to work around those walls after those 80% to the
first dead eye which means that you have to keep an eye on where Alpha E teleports him.
So it'll be tough to try and get into the face of GK even on something like a
she-on. Look at that an aggressive push there from Lada. Oh Delta, there a few bullets there
Kineke rips his head off with those twin pistols.
Yeah.
Diaz gonna try and go even onto the point,
but it is Kalex that goes down next.
A very clean fight from JD gaming in the neutral.
Yeah, you saw it when we were looking at the map overhead, right?
Kineke, Mewtwo's both actually.
Stacked the left side lane, walk onto Laptis position,
find the kill on the casting, we're at the casting,
GK don't have the damage,
nor the stop and potential to slow JD gaming down.
And now they're in a great position, especially with teleport already being used.
And...
Abrey pours.
What are your issues?
Please don't say you've got your ear.
Not again.
We'll have to see how exactly this Jedi is employed.
It isn't an ear issue, just getting word from Rod.
I mean...
They've done it again.
They need to write L and R on the...
Yeah, left, left, right.
That would be quite good.
But at least the poor should be pretty short. Yeah, let's the back of that one simply just switch the sides around. Okay
I don't want to call it now. I don't know if it was that issue or not
But I was just assuming I was just a shit
JD win
Signed there in the audience still a lot of Chinese fans turning up the journey game
Especially how well they've done so far. I'm see if they can continue that here
There's gonna be a rush to start us off the fight
They've been bricking it really early, Munk's gonna try and match behind you, and all the point is Seatad is just getting absolutely wrecked in the frontline.
Yeah, I find Apple just swinging out with that Overclock, Laptop trying to hold their space.
The rush vs. rush, GK thought that they would be able to win it.
But GD Gaming, they called the bluff, they sent the Overclock and Laptop finds nothing but the dead I accept to talk to the soldier.
I can reengage it.
U2 dashes away.
Whoa!
That's the title.
Okay, sure.
That was a...
You're bad.
You used the title pass to be honest with you, U2.
He was in a little bit of danger, but almost felt like a crapfinger almost, although you
snatched a quick two keys to get that done, so GK get an all-town 4th, 3th.
That looks so close to the sign bar, I see, which means that Ziad annihilations so close
him.
Oh, well, there's the annihilation.
Ziad, that was free up.
The head actually swaps on to the D.C.A.T.
They couldn't be closer if they tried.
But the S.R.I.D. is trying to stay alive.
But the S.R.I.D. does it again.
The lay-beat from Kalex might not be it.
Yeah, there's just no way.
But the S.R.I.D. does get traded though.
Hang on a second.
Kalex is the only one to fall to it.
A good little war dance there from a G.K.
Despite using S.R.I.D. super early on,
they managed to clutch up Alpha.
Yee comes up massive with the ult.
The head actually swaps on to the D.C.A.T.
The head actually swaps on to the D.va desk mentioned how good his hero pool is on that D.va
Kaila with one sided brushes while JD gaming having to spend time
If they want to be able to build up months old to be able to match his new shoes outside
The D.va's off goes to the brig to be able to play counter
It's got much money though
They probably don't want to go too quick
It would have just hang around for a moment. Now they can find a fight, but that is a good opening kick from LAPD.
Okay, fights done, fights over. Retreat! Hold S, J.D. Gaming!
Oh, I'm forcing you with Belisria going down. This is looking final fight.
I mean, GK, like you said, is perfect for that fight.
Oh, not another pick, surely. No, Konecki can't die.
Okay, Konecki's gonna get back at the very final moments. Belisria, he's going ball.
Yeah, you have to go ball. Mewtwo on the loose.
You're just to push J.D. Gaming onto the point to get the opportunity to use month rush versus fins.
the game. And the last one is
the last one. And the last one
is the last one. And the last
one is the last versus spins,
but lab to with that overclock
means that he gave such an
advantage for the last fight. Nice
move from the TV. Can we get
another one? Another one? Another
boot? Oh, he doesn't get
then perfect double boot from
Seattle and then Kellex
following up really nice stuff.
Just getting to play the lab
And you don't have to have an up-fold up to be able to find it when you have that rail charge.
And here's the thing, fighting against Ramteams, like that shield, it's so easy for a soldier to be able to punish.
As we have a look at some of the replays, this is insane here, this is DK perfectly playing around teleporter and symbol to be able to touch the damage of that she-on-screen.
I'm surprised you're out of the house.
Great stuff from R for you.
Alright, back to it.
V2, back on the Wooyang Connection.
And while I get on the Shea on GK doing same old same old EU things,
the MEA things, TV and R for you.
Yeah, Zad on the Ram as well.
Those are fellas rare with Punish.
We're through a map which is melting through that diesel mech
if you try to give a go of it.
GK already on this point though will be pretty hard for JD Gaming to unseat.
What?
How are we dying so early?
It was like a right flick into a right flick with the Simmin.
Oh, that was a nice shot.
Wow, ladder.
Got a little bit of rest this time as well.
Not coming straight off the plane.
The issue for JD Gaming is that they don't have the Sim to make up for the absence of Galucia.
So, if GK just walked towards JD Gaming, how do they escape them?
How, actually, do they even have the opportunity to take angles against laptop before he's already dead?
The answer is, they simply do not.
This has to be a perfect retake and it has to come off of more angle pressure from Kineki.
Alright, Ziye, I don't remember right now if GK2 touched the point, it's Kineki.
And Mewtwo wants to again try the same thing, trying to get an off-rangle with the Wu Yang and the Xiong.
They're gonna spot the teleports, but Bellas Rare is just getting dominated in the frontline.
Bunk's gonna fall down. Yeah, I'll be basically just sits there, hold them one.
There you go.
How to play Sim 101 against the Ramm.
But Paul Bellas Rare, he's always short-handed when it comes to the heals too,
because Mewtwo is being paired with Kineke, which means that you only have character as opposed to BK.
We get to use Kellix to push forward, but also have to heal alongside Finn, so JD gaming understanding, okay?
There are matters to vulnerable alone. Let's put Belisrare on to Paul, and let's just try to disrupt GK.
Right, don't die first, Charlie.
Belisrare back on the Paul, okay. Look at the ults over GK. They've got a whole bunch of them. They're just gonna run for it. W, F1, cop.
Uh oh, can't get caught here. Nice little slam, allowed to get Suzu though.
He's still hunting for bodies, hunting for heads, monks already down and this is all
falling apart. Did he get me too, get the cap? Okay, hey, see that one away? No problem.
GK just gonna hold S and go back to the point and get the Reveal, only 7% gain, not much
here, and still 5 volts almost for GK. Mewtwo at least with that title blast, but
Ladder would be under the plot. They're gonna chase him down. Look at this, there's a
Spree coming soon for Kineke, he's got the title last on his first though, hops on the bike and gets out of there real quick.
Alphie just puts off that wall and not much shaming gaming can do about it.
Annihilation now getting botched as they just run them down.
Pineapple Munk fallen, a late sound barrier.
GK look straight up comfortable, they look at home on this cop.
And that is gonna be destruction on map number one.
That did not feel close.
Now, JDGamble, they take so long to try to have these splits from their team, that GK
understands, okay, well if you're sending 3 players around the side, a Wuyan, a Xion,
and a Wrecking Ball, suddenly your Kiriko has 3 players who are without the range to
teleport to, so what if we just press W, get a speed with Lucio, send Ziad on the round
running right at you and you topple over when rush is full and you don't get to use it to leverage your way for a main on to point.
It's ironic, you know, that it was Sheehan that JD Gaming were playing because it feels like there was no foot on the gas pedal.
There's no forward momentum.
Maybe lacking a little confidence. Remember what Kinecti was doing the other day. I mean, he was on fire for JD gaming. Looks like a complete opposite here. Looks like they've been doused.
So if we look where we want to go, we'll be JD gaming with the map pick. Karma is going to sort that out.
Where do you go here? Like normally we see if the CN teams lose control, pivot tends to be flashpoint.
Though with how dominant that control was, I feel like they might try to avoid it, especially
because Ram is really good on Flashpoint at just running at you.
Hey, it feels like an EMEA type game, I'm just saying.
Pits in the playstyle really, really well.
Now, we're going to start off with the Bands course as well.
with the GK. I mean, we just, we just panned over them. Yeah. Not a carry on the well,
not a bother, not a worry. Straight chilling. It could be a Route 66, I feel. JD Gaming was
really good on Route 66 when they were able to go for this heavy dive wrecking ball, soldier
and tracer. And then if fellas were as he reports, found out, you have that hazard to
be able to pivot to, but they really do like things like that. She on the tracer, the ball,
the curico, the break, was what they actually played on attack the last time we got to see
them play Route 66. I just, I worry with how well-equipped GK were to be able to deal with
a composition which is meant to put you into chaos, right? The thing about the rack and
ball that she on the trace it's it's meant to overwhelm you you're meant to
panic you're meant to have not a lot of time to be able to work out where you
want to go how you want to play so the fact that DK just went before it was
set up means they totally sidesteped all of the things that that composition
should be making hard in fact they made it easy
The Wu Yang didn't really feel too good, especially as they kind of struggled to get in their faces too.
Even when you hit a tidal blast in a tank or whatever, you need a lot of follow-up to be able to hit that.
Ideally, you hit it in support of course, or a DPS, just a kind of one pop-up.
Will we reach 66?
I think one of the issues as well of the Wu Yang was that there was just not a whole lot of tidal blasts pulled up.
One, you don't get opportunity to heal your players because you're playing with your Shion,
so if your Shion loses the fight, that's your Wu Yang gone as well.
Jericho ban that we get, and then Shion ban to start really looking at taking down our
JD Gaming like to go through chaotic styles of plays, take as many lanes as possible,
avoid your front line, look to hit the back.
Yeah, that's how Kineke found so much success yesterday, was on the Xion.
So, probably a pivot to the Sojourn.
Sojourn Tracer tends to be what they opt for if that she on that has been banned.
But if you're geeky, you're happy about that, right?
Lapted's best hero has to be his soldier.
100%.
This was a guy who was touted as being able to match quarts at points.
And sometimes.
Better than quarts.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's a very scary thing to have on your team. Well, very, very good thing to have on your team.
They're very scary for everybody else that's fighting against it.
Route 66 is locked in first to two. Here we go.
GK one map away from locking in the final spot.
These groups, JD Gaming, they might be swiftly booking their flight home if they don't kind of lock in.
So, my concern with JD Gaming taking us to Route 66 is that you and I, we actually cast
both of the times they went to Route 66, one of which was up against Lethal on the Sojourn,
twice on first point Lethal was able to flank uncontested, unmarked, all the way around
side of map, and open up the space for his team to follow through.
was a criticism JD gaming they won that map but boy howdy did it come down to the wire
and it was off a third hold not first and second because they got absolutely blitzed it was also
up a parolix from players like pineapple receiving nanos from muck to be able to set up his own box
do you hear that crowd already how many of them are behind JD gaming right now
nice little jump up and I'm gonna shoot the alpha yeas quick switch
straight over to the sim okay L class to go again see a poke on the diva look at
this backline for GK as well the path from Finn looks like actually you're
gonna change Juno for Kellex Finn switching to... change?
okay it's changing his mind
okay this is a poke on my yeah goodness I mean this backline could be more
defensive play try. This is also like they fell as rare force the hazard to
overextend chain him kill him out of line of sight both the Anna and the break
that was right on engage yeah so like the DK you've already broken first
corner without one fight. TP, under high ground, sit wave CDs, well I'm sure the
gaming are gonna try and let jiggle this payload from the high ground. Monks in a
good angle, grenades from it, but from it you've already lost B2 and there's the
They'd hear LBE, sure, but Kaneki's gonna have a top-time security kill. He ends up getting Kalec, sure.
And if that pineapple picks up a kill onto LAPT, they're pretty scrappy affair. All things considered.
But he's Zed with 18 HP.
Anches did not only rock bellows rare, but kill pineapple. First fight done. Pay low, dude.
Yeah, Monk Mewtwo going down early as well means that JD gaming not close to having support of to set pineapple's living weapon online.
UK esports will have amplification matrix when JD gaming tries to confess
Braco has actually already been stouted off of damage done by Kellix
They should be already instantly rocked, there's going to be a nail at his back
so amplified healing somewhat from monk, generates that whole charge a little bit
quicker as well so the nano boost might be available here unless they go down
insta, with the window on high ground, lab's gonna make good use of this
high dude, oh instantly killing fire, have you seen how quickly that charged up?
That was gross, they're still gonna try for this one though, a little bit of extra
The stall time never hurt anybody, Nanoboost in fact on two fellas later but he's still
a three V5 on the point.
He'll have hazardly used to try and get something done but no, Nanoboost broke the win.
Yeah, that ant matrix as well with the dead eye just totally overrides Pineapple's living
weapon.
Monk having to just wait for the Nanoboost was not able to use it to supply for the emery
to have that damage reduction.
Now, DK just set up Labda perfectly in position with that Sixer Shield pocket to tax JD Gaming to walk from the high ground.
Look at how fast Muti has to try to contest a break bash to make sure that he doesn't get left behind and die.
It's got Rally in 10 though, does Muti?
Boltz won for Kineki. Oh, good stick!
Ah, Labda thinks good and look at that turnaround there from Labda, making sure he doesn't get popped after it.
Bellis Ray is also going to fall down as a quick teleport is actually going to bisect the retreats.
Pineapple Codes knows where the rest of them is.
This is just not looking close. J.K. is watching out straws with Bellis Ray going over to Winston.
Yeah, Pineapple back onto the soldier now.
Bellis Ray is just trying to get G.K. to turn around to look at him, to look at him.
To bone-eyed things like that immortality, but look at what G.K. have to work with.
This is going to be on a high ground with the Widnit.
Yeah, exactly.
I'm just going to jump out.
I'd love to.
Look at this.
And he's dead.
It's all dead.
It didn't even touch the ground.
It's just not happening.
It's off JDG right now.
Well, the chances for winning this fight are about as alive as Belisrael was jumping towards
that window.
We go third.
And Belisrael off of the Winston, onto the Rhine, lots of lives, at least, swaps now off
off of the Ana onto the Baptists because you know, you have to have luck. You don't have
a chance of building up those ultimate GKs with things like this, DeadEye.
He's on his third hero. Yeah. We're playing Mystery Heroes.
Bro, he's playing Rhyne. We're playing Mystery Heroes at this point, Jack.
We need to fight Arches. Maybe Rhyne's here. How about a DeadEye, son?
Tarkya, how've already gone? Shield? Oh, gone as well. Looks like Ziad's gonna box him
him in a corner, wrap him up, a little takeaway dinner here for Gtec.
Belisray is dead, there's the lap, Monk, you're on your own, we might just keep you there
as well.
Keeping that little house pet in the back, in fact both the ports have just been isolated
away from the fight.
Guys, you gotta get outta there!
You might get even flanked by Labdre, no, they managed to leave, okay, thankfully.
Belisray is going to join the fight once again, but we're on final push here, and see how
Gtec decides, you know what, that's going to flux you in your spawn.
Yeah, because now it's lost by territory.
Kellex low, Ghost low, goes down to Finalfall, so 3 of an opportunity for JD Gaming.
Okay, we don't want to grieve just yet, they've managed to hold on.
If I have to take a hide, it's going to be good.
Zag is deleted by amongst a window.
And they're good. Alright, starting on point.
Yeah, but that's huge forcing, window from JD Gaming.
When GK can just push with a window of their own, Sanctuary soon to be built up the Calyx to be able to absorb pineapples over clock, which means like, GK, you don't have to go first fast.
Here's the window. Big swing here from Finker to one tap somebody with the help of Labder.
No, wait surely for Alfie's wall before they walk on Pineapple.
They're going through the main.
And then she just dropped.
Look at the window. Easy peasy.
Look at that. Another tree shield already gone.
And now they're going to push on. And here's the wall.
You've got to duck though.
Another tree doesn't end up getting there just in time.
It's V2 tries to taxi him onto the point.
Kind of just going to try and go for a big fight past the window.
And the wall evens. That's just ended up falling down.
But look at that sanctuary.
A delectable push from GK.
What are they doing?
You seeing this? Finn, you see what I just did?
I just did yeah boom exploded everybody dead easy easy he's already crushing the
key that's what he's doing he's just manifesting that key crush at this point
man that was a brutal retake walk like what do you do if you're JD gaming and
and you have one overlock to work on.
Oh, it was shot.
Oh.
And he's dead.
That's, that's brutal.
There's a reason we don't see a whole lot of Winston.
There's current meta, but yeah, like, holding
Tineapple's overclock hostage, just walking to points with some wall,
and then having that opportunity.
Shit, right, it's a payload.
It, it, like, goes over.
They've removed.
Oh, my God.
Oh my god!
Oh we get a slow-mo perfect!
He tried over the payload!
He didn't have any chocolate to himself too.
The Mizuki too as well, like, sanctuary versus overclock.
Oh, that's not a fun match-up as I don't think JD Gaming are having much fun at the moment.
Obviously he hasn't died, by the way. 22 and 0.
I'm young now for you.
They have to just be able to shrug it off, though, is the thing for JD gaming.
You can't just fall into despair.
You can still work.
You can still attack.
You can still try to go fast with this grind with the scent.
An Overwatch player's favorite pastime, falling into despair.
of the players who I see playing Overwatch in my games, their pastime has fallen off of the map.
Oh, we're gonna bring up that again. We've got a few clips of that already.
Nice little teleport there, Kinect, you're trying to fake that one out,
charging into the wall as the adjunct is decided. You know what, actually,
up along for the high ground. Look at that. The wall behind him, plus the pink pro,
just says, absolutely not. Just jumps off Bellis Reyes' head and gets up onto height.
Another wall, but a quick teleport from Alphie, repositioned for the team, perfectly on top of
I'll be used to trying to play that off angle. GK at the moment, more than happy to set up on the high ground looks for the drop, flip the map and stop the objective from moving.
Gonna kill Laptop too. Taking a large chunk out of Kameki. Oh no, he's in trouble now. Nice teleport from JD Gaming. He's gonna eliminate the Cassidy.
Huge, just understanding that Laptop was so far split from the rest of the team that Sallis Rare goes so low that Laptop's actually close.
People, are you kidding me?
Okay, really thinking that this fight needs to be quick.
Alright, well,
hopefully with that, they should be able to just cap the point.
A quick teleport away from Alfa Yi.
Make sure he gets out alive.
Him and Kellogg's gonna link up.
I think you're worried because Lampers Force from Bellas Royale,
Mewtwo did not have sign bars,
yet could have gone for the fluxes.
DK, not looking like they'll go for the recon test.
JD Gaming pushed for a second,
but here's why DK did not fight back.
They're established to high ground hold and JD gaming have to dig deep to be able to bring it
I'll say Ryan mass there in the audience of course
Mines who've kept her back when he joined large for those who know
Four minutes and a bit for JD games on a lot of volts
They just got to get themselves in the good position again with this teleport
But now there's so many angles that GK are holding from
Teleport onto the high ground this time.
Yep, they're just going to ignore this window.
Just back off, just wait, wait for it to disappear.
Yep, great teleport from JD Gaming.
Avoids the window, wait for it to drop.
Then try to run at GK.
Teleport back onto point so you can keep the objective.
Move it and force them to drop off high.
That is in trouble.
I set a roundup from downtown,
and they're just going to assist in that kill onto Monk.
They're going to use this wall to push forward.
Even with this kill onto Monk,
it's still going to be tough for GK to win this fight decisively.
Although, say it, that lags on the high ground already. Can any of you round down to the dole, to the dole, or not?
Now, yeah, a quick descend from the rest of GK to eliminate JDG.
Yeah, similar, just not quite able to save month and GK.
Swift, the knife, was a full five win, which means that once more JDG may have to walk into that high ground setup.
Tell it to the Sanctuary, she'll be able to absorb the damage when Month's Window opens up.
Lab'd up with this overclock, it's the thing that you have to worry about if you're JD Gaming
because you can't just play half hit versus the Sanctuary.
Half and half there, half teleport, high ground, half stay on the payload, now they're moving up.
Sanctuary, like you mentioned, is going to be tough to fellow Shraia to get value with the Shatter too,
despite that Sanctuary being available.
Tellable?
Yep.
Straight off the gas station, the Sanctuary gets blocked there, instantly the Kelly's Furniture coming down.
Oh, and Ziad actually eats the Blizzard!
What a beautiful little player there from Ziad, but it might just be all over anyway on the map, as she says, actually, not today!
A jumping high ground, a little shot onto Pineapple, send them May, fax to Sport,
and now Sunnyfellas Red is trying to contend with the rest.
So, a bit of minutes to go now, this tie-back slowly dwindling.
He's so clean with the Soldier. Sees the teleport, uses the powerslide, dodges any chance for that Shatter to hit him,
Put some stuff up the high ground, I'll be useful for more to keep left the safe.
And the overclock takes JDGaming out. Fast push though to teleport to high ground and window.
Fire strike? No, not why. They're not going to give him the chance to get that one tap.
Point guys, someone from JDGaming has separated from the pack, dropped down.
But that means that Mewtwo's not there to push the team forward.
All good though, you don't really need the movement speed right now and you can get
out of dodge real quick with the teleport straight up the height.
Ziad's going to have the blocks, the Shatter is blocked by the shield of Ziad and they still got ult to spare as well.
Alphie's going to clean up. The ultimate economy game from GK is sublime.
It feels like Finn was using the amplification to bait the Shatter as well, with how ready Ziad is on the signature shield to be able to stop it.
And JD Gaming, Pineapple, is now onto the Bastion, just to try to have any form of first damage on that symmetric teleporter movement.
Alright, Benefi, with the TP, there's the team across the chasm.
See how kind of playing with this food right now just went into a pair. This is our king, anything so he knows something's up.
The box on the right is gonna be big, he had the pink three. Nice wall in response.
The team are gonna be immune to pretty much everything right now, but look at this damage actually being thrown in, that wall is gonna get deleted in just a moment.
Alphys gonna deploy a wall of his own and now this monk window from the high ground might be what they need to win this fight.
Shooting at the wall means it's gonna get deleted, that health is gonna get shut down pretty readily, especially with this faction now.
Yeah, just sitting behind the amplification matrix, but Alphys down and yeah, caught, just starting.
Soundbar from U2, and depending on the rarequake teleport or reposition from Labda, Helix goes dangerously low as they've ended up supporting the map again.
Like, what, what are we here? It's like the map has a table.
Ooh, the ad trying to stand up.
Oh, connected.
30 seconds to go as well, Moxie. They need to hit a reset here.
I don't think there's lots of those. GK just keep applying pressure.
Yeah, U2's just going to go down as well. We're still with the rest of the team.
But the Shree tries to get an emergency pain, emergency kill, anything to stay alive!
This feels like my mug has to use a motocross to go just to live!
It's over!
They're just gonna leap up, you can push the payload, don't matter!
It really just does not matter!
You've not got a chance to get back in!
This is done!
GK, locking down Route 66 might as well have the key already on the crosser.
Now the Shree's gonna get into the touch here, a little finer one, overtime does end up getting triggered,
They've got a beat, they've got a flux coming up, they've got a window, they've got everything they need.
Monk has to be the saviour, but they're just too distracted with their own small little tasks.
A nice two-player flux. Mewtwo pineapple put in the dirt.
JD Gaming are gonna go down. GKE supports. They secure that final spot in the playoffs.
And they looked so relaxed doing it as well.
Perfectly playing around the symmetric timings on the defense and just applying so much constant
pressure, so much damage on the attack to not allow JD gaming the opportunity to hold
their ground.
Fightin' fights, balls ultimate, stall like time.
GK looked good right now.
That three-maps versus Zate Division should have been the telltale sign of how this series was going to go.
Another Chinese representative is gonna get eliminated, leaving Wavebo.
The last hope here for the region.
Big smiles on the face all around for GK.
they're going to join space station gaming, the Zate Division and Crazy Raku who qualify out of Group B.
Twisted Minds to continue the EMEA representation. So GK will have to defend their title.
They've been able to be out twist minds before, but now they have to do it on the international land setter.
Let's get a quick word from the Danish superstar, the legend, Kellex, down on the stage.
Yes, I am standing by with the Danish superstar. Congratulations Kellex for that big win.
I imagine you must be very happy in France.
So you know the French fans because you've been part of the team peps back in the days in 50.
Give me something for you so maybe you can show it to the camera and then flip it.
He told me to give it to you. Maybe you can show it here.
Thank you.
Give him a little note. All jokes aside, it's a pleasure to have you here.
Of course, you've been able to witness the fashion of French fans, you know,
being there on a big arena. How much does it mean to you to be back here?
Amazing. I was here three years ago for a lot of tournaments and I met a lot of hip fans
and it was amazing. You know, the French fans are crazy in this eSport and other eSports as well.
So yeah, it's great.
And it's great to have you, of course.
The first question.
You know the passion of French fans, of course,
because you're part of the old Pepe team.
He says it because all the watch partners, teams, bundles
have been announced on social media.
So you're going to be able to get your favorite teams,
bundles, because indeed, French fans are incredible.
We hear them make noise.
You know, I wanted also to ask you,
because we've seen Geekay struggle a bit
at the beginning of the season, at the beginning of the year.
Yet, when you joined, it's a whole different story.
So what do you think you're bringing to this team?
And you keep bringing to this team?
I think I'm a good comedian.
I've been doing good jokes, good vibes,
and average gameplay.
I think my strength is just making my teammates happy.
And yeah, as you can see, we're doing well so far.
So hopefully, I can keep it up.
I mean, average gameplay, when you made it to playoffs,
I think it's very humble.
But yes, indeed.
So the second question, Gike, you've been a part of the Galère Aventure since you joined Tela.
It's a completely different story. What do you think you bring to the team?
Well, really, the good vibes, the vans, I try to put my teammates at their prime all the time
and in a pretty average gameplay, even if I don't necessarily agree with that.
key from JDG. Go for it, it's your moment. As our lovely keymaster walks him through,
it is indeed a victory for GKE Sports taking down JD Gaming here in Paris. GKE, our playoffs.
That, that sounded great.
Yeah, wow. What are you feeling?
What are you feeling? I'm going to welcome you back onto the stage with one last very, very important question.
Because last year you've played several finals, but it was never the time for you to get the trophy.
So can you tell me why this year is going to be the one for you?
Last year, I was with two of my teamers over here in Lepton, and I think we've learned from our mistakes, so I'm very hopeful that we can finally bring it home.
Hope and confidence?
Yeah, I think I'm pretty confident. Now we're going to play best of fives, so we can finally play our full comp all the time, almost, so yeah, I'm happy.
I think a lot of us are excited also to see you guys in best of fives.
It's true that last year you played a lot of finals, it's never been the opportunity to take the trophy.
Why this year? It's going to be your year.
Well, I was already with two of my teammates last year when we played finals.
I think we learned from our mistakes and in real life, a bit of hope, a bit of confidence.
And I think it can be done.
Thank you so much for joining me and we're going to be standing by for the drone show.
So make sure not to go too far because we're going to be back after a short break.
See you there.
Thank you very much.
Thank you!
That may be the smartest man in Paris right now.
There are so many great French organizations, pets, vitality, gentlemen, it's carming
core and now I feel like GK may have one of us a French fans.
After that interview, Kellex, a performer, says he's just got to lay down the jokes.
I'll think you and crew will take care of the rest.
Honestly, Kellex has been so expressive this event.
He was playing with the camera, was chokin' around,
was giving some heat to his teammates as well during their last series,
where I'm earning some of them just hard to have a bathroom break that went on forever.
So yeah, I love the leadership that Kalex brought in and outside of the server, really.
Yeah, I mean, this guy is a veteran of the sport.
We had a discussion behind the doors, just like,
has he played the most official matches out of anyone in Overwatch sports?
I think we settled, maybe, on the violet,
but Kalex stopped there because of the Overwatch phase.
Robert Kraft had this guy on his team for the Boston Uprising.
Now he, of course, is playing for GK, wearing a different shade of blue.
Reinforced when you look at GK's victory tonight, how surprising is it
that they made it through the groups?
I don't think it's too surprising, but this was a really good win.
I loved the adjustments they made, and they stayed composed, even though they
took a really difficult loss earlier today against the division.
Love that was just firing and all students are here on the soldier.
And the adaptation they made on Roost 66 when they went back to spawn took 15 seconds to decide what composition they were going to play.
And it just completely threw a wrench in what the gaming had planned.
They did not plan for Bellas Ria to play Reinhardt.
They did not plan to play Symmetra when they picked Roost 66.
And so GK really put them in the back for a very impressive win.
So as we take a look at the highlights, what did you enjoy?
Honestly, everything. I like the composition they're playing.
I think it's pretty much everything is in their comfort zone.
I don't think they have to change too much drastically from what we've seen from them in stage two,
since the men already seem to work well for them already there.
So it's one of those teams which we're just able to continue to do what they wanted to do anyway.
We welcome in Danny Lim to the studio.
Danny, you've been running around getting everyone's predictions on the week.
Did you get your prediction right in this one?
This one I did. I'm gonna be honest, I had to do predictions twice.
I think the first one I said I said I said GK was gonna win and then the second one I said I kind of doubled it
I I predicted that they're gonna lose but but in my heart. I knew that GK was gonna win. Hey shout out to GK
Thank you for getting my prediction right I guess go with your gut
You know that was smart the first answer was the right answer
GK are powering through there one of eight teams that'll be playing for the lion's share of our million-dollar prize pool
So this is the mid-season championship. So what are we where are we at the big picture?
What are we looking forward to here in the final two days?
Well, it's within a name. We're exactly in the middle of our season
We still have the world finals to come of course
But even after this event there is going to be the Overwatch World Cup that is happening which is finally returned
Our first stop is going to be in Korea
So so many of these players that are playing here will be traveling to Korea literally a few days after this event
And so they got some very staff schedules.
They're going to be so busy and so are we,
because Johnny, in about 13 minutes,
we will be drawing names on stage,
and our players will be selecting their opponents.
So walk me through the process,
and how big of an advantage is it
to come out with a early seed?
Yo, I mean, this is huge getting the number one seed,
because I do think that the best number one seeds
outweigh the number two seeds.
And I mean, that's effectively the difference.
If you win your quarterfinal's matchup,
that's a difference of like $60,000,
and who doesn't want $60,000?
And so if you're the number one seed,
you have a great upper hand going into the playoffs here.
And so we're gonna see these teams draw it on a bucket
or I don't know what kind of objects we prepare
to draw these things out.
Some hides, some hide, some hide.
And place them on a bracket and see where they end up.
Let's take a look here at our bracket so far
as groups have ended.
We've sent half of the competition packing.
Danny, walk me through the early rounds.
What did we see on days one and two?
I think I could say this in a very concise way.
uh better teams won
am i am i wrong i'm wrong i mean most of the predictions i i feel like it was
kind of easy to get i think uh for me uh i really remember i think the first day was t1 versus
twisted mic that one was very interesting because i'm a big twisted mindspan right so
them getting the win was i was like yes let's why are you a twisted mindspan is that because the
Quartz bring the energy? Quartz. Quartz. I honestly think Quartz is the best headscan that we have in Odo VCS.
Wow, do you like Lionel Messi too or? How'd you know? Wow, wow. He likes him. That's crazy.
I think the match that surprised me, the only match that really surprised me was that Vable victory.
That's what I really didn't have anywhere on my pick-ins.
Yeah, Vable has always been the strongest team coming out of China, right?
We've always known the potential of the players.
Several of them have been in the Overwatch League at the past,
OWCS in the past, but to come out and beat the Falcons the way they did,
I think that was a shocker.
And for the Falcons to get eliminated here today,
that may be the biggest story
if you've been following the club championship since week zero.
For now though, we got to celebrate Twisted Minds
because they are guaranteed points at least 200 with the top eight finish.
And remember last year, this is a team that finished in our top four.
So what can get done for a team rockin light blue and pink silly expectations for Ubi's crew?
Honestly the expectations are very very high. Yes, they were looking shaky earlier this year
But I think they put their egos aside
They're now buying into the meta the things that they strayed away from which is clearly if you're not playing cat fashion
and you may be struggling a little bit if you don't have like a really like
big other identity looking at like a Dallas fuel or something like that but for them to pick it up for this event and
Playing it so seamlessly is, I think, a very good sign.
Yeah, I think what is so interesting about Twisted Minds is, for the past couple of events,
they've gone through the lower bracket, okay?
They've taken a loss in the tournament, and they've had to run it back.
On the bench, they have J.Woo, who is mechanically one of the best players in the tournament.
But instead, they've just sat from the get-go this time around.
We're just gonna put Yubi in the mix, we're gonna play the Symmetra,
and knowing now in the playoffs that there is no double elimination,
it's single elimination, one loss and you're out.
They've already early in the tournament, committed to the Symmetra approach.
And when they play this, they consistently reach the Grand Finals.
Major shout out to our production team.
Not only are they preparing highlights for all of the teams playing in the final two days of action,
they've also prepared an interview, Dani-Lem, and it's with one of our favorite human beings.
He goes by the name of Poco, and I know that you know him very well.
What are you excited to talk about with the Frenchman?
I want to hear what Poco, who Poco thinks is going to win it all.
You know, what he thinks is going to be the champions for EWC Poco, right?
Hi Poco!
Hi, Danny!
Alright, tell me, tell me, who do you think is going to win it all for EWC?
It's a tough question, tough, tough, tough.
I'm going to give you like two answers and two only.
I think Twisted Minds are like so good on LAN.
They are like the best at it.
UB is like mastermind level.
And maybe T1, maybe T1 is going to do it.
Yeah, I believe.
That seems like such an unbiased opinion.
Unbiased.
That's crazy.
Pogo, can you tell us a little bit about T1's performance
because they powered through the group stages.
You called this for us on day number two.
What did you see from your team and who are you proud of?
Yeah, I'm very proud of Dongak.
I mean, he's like so good.
I'm like a thank main.
So I'm like, how can he be so good on Moga?
I think he's like the best Moga in the world for me.
He's like climbing and doing everything.
And then the team probably is so good, the back lane is too good, but yeah, 2-0 against Alcon,
they're served and I hope they're gonna have a good opponent and they're gonna go further.
Who do you want to see them beat? Who do you want to see them play?
Because now we're doing a draw here on stage and they could face a lot of different opponents here.
What kind of team do you think will be a good matchup for T1?
I think maybe Weebo. Weebo is gonna be probably the easiest matchup for Sankjaer.
Um, yeah.
Okay, who will be the hardest matchup then?
Like, who do you not want to face up against if you're T1?
Maybe Zedah. I feel like Zedah is still good.
They play like all the time against T1 and they have like the upper advantage, but yeah, Zedah, a bit difficult as in.
I got some bad news. It's live from our producer. Are you ready for it?
You got a 50-50 shot. You can either play Crazy Raccoon or Zenogenation.
That's not good at all guys. Can we change it? Can we do something about it?
We're in Paris. I'm sure you know some people behind the scenes that speak French.
Poco, let's talk a little bit about tags. You are one of my favorites to watch since the beginning of the Overwatch competitions.
Who has been most impressive? We have eight teams moving forward,
forward but you can pick from any of the 16 that graced our stage here at EWC.
I think I should be T-V-T. I mean, I really like his Diva. He's like so good at it and
now he can play Rain, he can play Sigma, he can play like so many tanks and he's so good
with like a Twisted Mind. I'm very impressed by this player.
Do you think you could make a return Poco? Like when you watch these guys play or you're
like oh I'm just I'm gonna jump in scrims after the tournament like I'm ready to go
I'm fired up T1 put me in
We're not washed yet. Come on. Not anymore. Not anymore. No, I don't think I don't have the fire in me anymore
I just I just play ranked and up fun. It's a lot of hours. Yeah, it's too much work
Getting old. Pogo. We've got three fantastic tanks here on camera. We've got reinforce
We have you and of course we have been best of course. Who's the best of the three? I
Mean reinforce was pretty good at this peak
The ancient lore of Overwatch history, that was seriously...
I didn't play Overwatch League, you too did.
Yeah, but you are like before the Overwatch League, which is more prestigious for me.
I like that. That is good gas.
He's way better than both of us combined though.
Go watch PokerStream donate on our behalf in the meantime.
We got to check out Group B.
Poker, thank you so much for joining us.
Yep, of course.
Let's take a look here at our Group B bracket.
We are about two minutes away from that draw show.
Shout out to everyone on stage getting ready for this crazy raccoon.
You just heard it's most likely going to draw T1 or one other opponent.
Zeta Division is the other squad that T1 could draw.
It's a lose-lose in my book, so is there a win in this situation?
No, not really. I mean, maybe perhaps like they're extra motivated.
Maybe there's some magic on the stage, but on paper, like both of these teams said,
as well as Crazy Raccoon, they should have pumped for the upper hand against T1.
So that's a little unfortunate.
In Johnny, I assume that means GKE sports and space station gaming are likely to play Twisted Binds or Wayboat.
That's right, because in this, of course, you can't play the team from the same group.
So if you're the number two seed here in Group B, if you're GKE or Space Station,
you're guaranteed to play the number one seed from Group A and Vs Vs Vs.
So if you're the number one seed from Group B, then you have to play the number two seed
from Group A, one of those two teams.
And so I actually think that the number two seed from Group B, they have some real upshot potential.
You lost, Danny. You completely lost.
No, I'm on the page. No, I don't see it.
I understood. Yeah, group C number two can't play.
Uh-huh.
Number one for the same group.
Actually, there you go.
Yeah, something like that.
Excellent work here.
It took 60 years of eSports knowledge
combined to figure out how this whole thing works.
Meanwhile, production knew all along
and they're going to have that ready for us
in about 45 seconds before we go.
If you're Waybo and you want to make it.
to make it to a championship Sunday.
Who are you hoping to draw?
Oh, who are you hoping to draw?
Like, I don't want to go on this D.K.
I don't want to go up on this D.K.
Like, D.K. could go all the way.
Three of those guys were in the Esports World Cup finals
last year.
I don't want to pay that team.
And what is stopping Twisted Minds
from winning 2026, Danny Lim?
What is stopping them?
I guess teams are crazy recorded and data, I guess.
But I think Twisted Mind has a really good chance.
I mean, they played a super close in a Japanese question in Tokyo, and you know,
they might be able to do it again and maybe win this one.
Well, find out who is crazy raccoon playing it.
It is time to get into the draw show live from EWC.
Yeah, we've got all the answers you need here on stage here at the EWC.
It's the STC arena stage.
And look, we've played all the overwatch that needs to be played in the group stages.
There's one thing left to do, and that is to determine the matchups for our quarter final.
We're going to have a live draw here myself and Lua joined by some very special guests first
I'm going to introduce team liquids rack attack. How are you doing and how much do you enjoy the matches today?
Magic I've been very good today. Honestly did enjoy a lot of it. What a loved liquid on them, but you know
Can't can't have it all. Sorry about that. It is what it is. It's fine on the other side
Of course, I'm with Fefefefefefe
Finaly, j'ai envie de dire l'en du président d'overwatch. En France, alors quoi ce qui est particulier?
big reaction yeah what is particular with him is that not only he's a streamer
but also a caster you've been hearing his voice here in the venue so which team
do you have your eyes on who are you excited about I'm gonna always cheer
for him here so I'm excited to see who twisted minds gonna face fair enough
twisted minds I'm excited and he cares and he came fair enough to do this lose
we stop let's go we're gonna start by seed one so if he's gonna draw seed ones
one by one to have them in the brackets and teams from the same group cannot be
facing each other in the first quarter finals and first is indeed Twisted Minds
this is our de-organization I'm gonna take care of this thank you
they're looking good Twisted Minds looking very good yeah they recovered
Fefe, next one, let's go.
Next one is Weeball Gaming.
How does that sound?
Pretty good.
Pretty good, pretty good.
Moving on to the third seed one team in the bracket.
The third team, seed one, Zeta Division.
who will not be directly faced with Twisted Minds again.
And last but not least, you've guessed it, but still, Crazy Raccoon.
You'll have to be a foo for this last Seed 1 team.
Ian, shall we get going?
Now, the question is, who will their face off against?
Out of the teams that are in the top Seeds here,
Who do you think would you say is the number one and the most dangerous left in the tournament?
You gotta go with Crazy Raccoon, I mean they're always dominant for us, they always bring it when you need it and just a scary team overall to face.
Pfeffer, do you agree? Crazy Raccoon best team?
I don't know but it's a pretty good one and the best since humans, yes.
Ok, solid recently, let's move on to the C2.
This is where we find out which teams will face off against each other. Back attack, you ready?
Ready, I'm ready. Let's begin.
GKE Sports!
The first matchup is going to be GKE Sports versus Twisted Minds!
I'm going to welcome the players, UB and of course our player, you're going to face
He's bummed, of course. Love that, 7.
You can get back, of course, into positions.
We're very excited for that EMEA Derby.
You said it, did you want to see a Derby EMEA?
I wanted to see them, but maybe not against Lotte.
It seemed to be a bit of a loss on the road, but it's going to be a good match.
It's going to be a good match. I'm sure about that. I agree with him.
It's from Quads Fander. Let's move on to the next one. Let's do this.
Dallas! Fuel!
So the next matchup, I am waiting for confirmation, it's going to be Dallas Fuel versus Zeta Division.
Oh, rack attack, as these players come together here, what are your thoughts on that matchup?
It's a tough one, isn't it, for Dallas?
Definitely a tough one as a fellow American, TBSA, a little scary, so you don't go against Zeta, but, you know, I know they got that.
You back them, you back them. Yeah, yeah, I got them.
Alright, let's move on now to the next one.
Look at me now and Violet, who gave each other a fist bump, that's gonna be a banger match.
Oh, T1!
So the third game is gonna be Crazy Raccoon versus T1!
What do you think? That's a spicy one. That's a really spicy first round.
Scared to see one of those guys go out really early.
Isn't that gonna be one of the best matches possible?
Yeah, maybe it's gonna be the ones that we're gonna get the most excited about.
Yeah, we're gonna get excited about it for sure.
Now we know who this is, but we've got to do the formality.
Let's take our attack and let's reveal to the world the final team, which is of course
Space Station Gaming!
Weibo versus Space Station Gaming is our last matchup, our last quarterfinal.
So thank you guys, how are we feeling about this?
What do you think about it?
I think it would be a good match for the teams that wanted to face each other.
I think those teams wanted to face each other for the one that we're playing.
So that's going to be interesting.
Final thoughts? I think that's our final spicy game.
Hopefully, as you can get some revenge for us.
Let's see, you're an attack there, you've been brilliant.
We're just going to take a quick look at the bracket so you at home can really see
see what is in store for you tomorrow on quarterfinals there for Overwatch here at the Esports World
Cup.
Lou, we're in for a pangor.
Yeah, I'm really excited about it and starting from tomorrow there is no second chances anymore.
No loser bracket, you lose, you're out to the airport, you win, you move on, so I can't
wait for it.
Can't wait to get it.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again, can't wait for tomorrow.
Can you win an award for a draft show?
Well done to that trio, our director Ian and of course Lou, alongside our special guest.
And what a bracket if you are a Weibo fan, this is your time to smile.
Johnny, space station gaming is in your way of a semi-final and potentially a clear road
to a grand final.
My head is exploded.
Like this bracket is unbelievable.
If you told Weibo gaming or space station that they could make top four in this tournament,
Both of those teams would have just exploded with joy,
like so happy about this.
And meanwhile, Twisted Minds, GK, above them as well,
that's going to be essentially a match
for a spot at the Grand Finals
because they're so favored.
This bracket is unbelievable.
On the other side, T1, they're devastated
as they draw a crazy raccoon.
And even if you win that,
you're likely to play Zeta Division,
the squad that everyone has feared in this tournament, Zoe.
Yeah, I would mean my heart dropped here for Danis Fuel.
They had to fight so hard to even get here
and now set a division in their way
to make the semifinals for T1.
I mean, at least they're familiar with Crazy Raccoon,
maybe the familiarity helps them in some way, shape or form.
I'm reaching, but I'm trying.
Danny, if you win this next round
and go to the semifinals,
what's the difference of prize money
and of course points for the club championship?
60K?
60,000?
300 points?
Yeah.
Did I get that right?
Not bad.
Okay, no, not at that.
I feel like I'm getting quizzed every time.
Every time Puck is throwing me a question,
I'm just like, oh, did I get the right answer?
Okay, that's okay, that's pretty fair.
I thought it had all the notes of the homework
on the bistro.
I was a fan, it's right there.
I'm talking, I said 5,000 times.
I said Puck and Tee.
Look at me, I'm like, okay, he's gonna throw me a question.
I didn't even see that, and you were like, okay.
Oh, I'm like, okay, right there, got it.
And that's how you win Emmys, ladies and gentlemen.
Our playoff bracket is set.
We, of course, have a million dollars and 400,000 points
and of course, sorry, 1,000 points and 400,000 dollars
on the line for first place.
Johnny, this is some serious money for Overwatch
and we're only here in the mid-season.
I am so excited for this one.
This bracket, whichever way it unfolds,
it's going to be two days of Overwatch action.
You don't want to miss.
Final thoughts here, Zoe,
as we're about to head into the shuttle.
Glad you mentioned that.
I'm just very, very happy.
History's already been made.
China making it this far is super, super exciting.
It's been a region that's been lacking behind
for the last two years.
So to see them in this spot
and like the semifinals in reach is incredible.
Danny and I are gonna go find a very happy couple
that is celebrating their honeymoon here at EWC,
watching their favorite game in Overwatch.
In the meantime, we hope you guys enjoyed the STC recap
of all the games from Group Play.
We'll see you for the playoffs tomorrow.
TORRES! MAKE THEM NICE!
LET'S GO!
EASY!
that's
all jill dance
Play is in our DNA.
Whenever we let it out, it becomes our superpower.
Now imagine an entire city being built to supercharge it.
Hedia City, powered by play.
We were there for every click, every clutch, every respawn.
We were there for the years of grind, and we're here.
Now, the proud founding partner of EWC, powering the biggest event in gaming, shoulder to shoulder
with the world's best.
Making history.
Greatness deserves a stage.
Lenovo Legion, reach your impossible.
I